Health Expert Warns of Stomach Cancer Surge Amid Widespread Ulcer Crisis

A Ugandan health advocate and aspiring lawmaker is sounding the alarm over a looming public health crisis, warning that the nation could see a significant rise in stomach cancers if urgent measures are not taken to address the country’s rampant ulcer epidemic.

Mukungu Fredrick Albert, the High Representative of the Buganda Kingdom in the United Kingdom and an aspiring Member of Parliament for Entebbe Municipality, issued a stark statement highlighting that three out of every five Ugandans currently suffer from gastric or peptic stomach ulcers.

“These are open wounds on or in the stomach lining, often causing a burning, gnawing pain in the upper abdomen,” Albert explained. “What the public does not realize is that these prolonged, untreated, inflamed wounds can develop into stomach cancer.”

According to medical experts cited in the statement, the primary cause of stomach ulcers is the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, which colonizes the gut. Additional risk factors include the long-term use of NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen, overuse of acid-suppressing medications, and certain lifestyle habits.

Albert emphasized that public health education has been dangerously insufficient, allowing a preventable condition to fester into a potentially fatal one.

What the Public Must Do

In his advisory, Albert outlined eight critical steps for Ugandans to protect themselves:

Test and Treat: Individuals must get tested for H. pylori bacteria and complete full treatment if positive.
Eliminate Sources: Understand that H. pylori spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, including vomit, stool, or saliva.
Hygiene: Maintain strict hygiene when handling food and water.
Dietary Caution: Reduce alcohol intake—especially on an empty stomach—and limit consumption of energy drinks or those high in acids.
Stop Starvation: Eat meals on time and maintain a healthy, balanced diet to protect the stomach lining.
Hydration: Drink adequate water daily to maintain a balanced pH level in the body.
Regular Deworming: Deworm at least every three months to eliminate intestinal parasites that destroy good bacteria and aggravate internal wounds.
Lifestyle Choices: Avoid any lifestyle habits that negatively impact well-being.

Call for Government Action

Beyond individual responsibility, Albert placed significant blame on regulatory failures. He called on the government to launch mass public sensitization campaigns and to strictly regulate the standards of drinks and food available on the market, particularly scrutinizing preparation methods.

“We cannot stand by while our people suffer from preventable diseases simply because of ignorance and lax regulation,” Albert said. “The government must step in to protect its citizens.”

Medical professionals in Kampala have echoed concerns that the prevalence of untreated ulcers, combined with poor dietary habits and limited access to gastrointestinal screening, creates a “perfect storm” for an oncology crisis in the coming decade.

This report is based on a statement issued by Mukungu Fredrick Albert.