The family of Rose Lutalo, a primary two school teacher at Lwagula Memorial Primary School and a choir member at Namirembe Diocese, has appealed to the public to support them in raising Shs70 million for her urgent life-saving cancer treatment.
Mr Ronny Lutalo, the patient’s husband, said that for seven years, she has battled breast cancer with courage, receiving care at Uganda Cancer Institute.
She endured 25 rounds of chemotherapy and a mastectomy, only for the disease to return aggressively in September 2024, spreading to her uterus.
She is currently experiencing painful fluid buildup in her abdomen that prevents her from eating solid food. She survives on liquids largely amid constant pain.
Mr Lutalo told this publication on Wednesday that every week, they spend a lot of money on medicines alone.
“One bottle of albumin protein costs Shs280,000, and she needs up to five bottles weekly. And there is another tablet used as a chemotherapy alternative, which costs Shs76,000 each,’ he said.
This means on the albumin alone, she needs around Shs6 million each month. Patients usually access cancer drugs for free at the Cancer Institute, but they may be asked to buy medicines not in stock from nearby private pharmacies in Kampala.
The family has so far raised Shs9.2 million, far short of the Shs70 million needed for comprehensive care, including scans, specialised drugs, and possible surgery.
Before illness struck, Ms Lutalo was a pillar of her community. As head of Music, Dance, and Drama in Namirembe Diocese Sunday Schools, she nurtured hundreds of children.
‘Even during hospital visits, she collected clothes and essentials to distribute to fellow cancer patients at the Uganda Cancer Institute,’ Mr Lutalo noted.
‘When she was still active, she was very charitable, supporting the least privileged children; many are at her home even now. So we are trying to see whether we can support her to fight the battle and then get back into activity to be useful to the community once again,’ he added.