Uganda's First Local Bone Marrow Transplant: Stephen Sande's Path to Recovery

Stephen Sande from Namayingo spent much of 2025 bedridden at Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) due to multiple myeloma, a aggressive blood cancer that shattered his bones and left him in constant pain, unable to walk.

Now a beacon of hope, Sande became Uganda’s inaugural patient for a fully local bone marrow transplant, carried out by UCI’s team. After 22 days in isolation, he walked out on April 24, 2026, feeling liberated. ‘It’s like clearing a heavy bank loan,’ he laughed, relief evident.

Lead specialist Dr. Clement Okello, a consultant haematologist, described the transplant as a system reboot. For stable patients in remission, like Sande, rigorous tests check heart, lungs, dental health, and more to confirm suitability.

The process began with drugs to boost stem cell production, followed by apheresis to harvest them. High-dose chemotherapy then wiped out diseased cells, leaving Sande hairless and infection-prone. On day zero, his own stem cells were reinfused.

Challenges arose, including high fevers signaling potential infection. Antibiotics and treatment for engraftment syndrome—when new cells take root—turned the tide. ‘We clapped when his temperature dropped,’ Dr. Okello recalled. Dr. Henry Ddungu admitted the stress gave him ulcers.

Previously, Ugandans traveled abroad for transplants costing $30,000-$50,000. Locally, it’s around $15,000, a game-changer for UCI’s 7,000 annual cancer cases. Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng noted it’s still pricey but urged specialist integration.

Post-transplant, Sande must wear masks, dodge crowds, prioritize hygiene, eat well, and wait six months for vaccines—like a newborn rebuilding immunity. Not everyone qualifies; fitness and disease status matter, even for those up to 70.

Suitable conditions include leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, sickle cell disease, and severe aplastic anaemia. More transplants are planned this year.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)