Have Ugandan scientists really found a cure for Cancer and diabetes?

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made a claim that Ugandan scientists had found a cure for Cancer, diabetes and Malaria

President Museveni, while presiding over the opening of the Kira Motors factory, stated that Ugandan scientists have found a cure for diabetes, cancer, and malaria. This claim relates to ongoing promising research and developments in Uganda.

"They(Ugandan Scientists) have actually found a cure for diabetes, a complete cure, found a cure for cancer, there is also a cure for malaria" Museveni said

After the president's proclamation on national television, one may be expecting to find the said "cures" for these diseases on the shelves of your favourite pharmacy, but alas, the president was speaking of drugs still in development. His speech prematurely makes the assertion that these medicines are finished and ready to treat patients which we have found to be false and misleading.

President Museveni claims that Ugandan scientists have found a cure for Diabetes, Cancer and Malaria. Courtesy of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation

The Facts on these Ugandan drugs

We consulted credible sources, including scientific publications, government announcements, press reports, and statements from researchers directly involved in these projects. This is what we found;

David Ssenfuka, a Ugandan herbalist and managing director of the Leonia-NNN Medical Research and Diagnostic Centre, has spent over a decade developing herbal formulations for diabetes and cancer. His products, SD2018 (for diabetes) and CT (for cancer), have shown potential in animal testing. However, they have not yet undergone or completed human clinical trials. This was documented by The Observer newspaper in July and September 2025, including reports of Ssenfuka’s meetings with the President and Cabinet.

The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI), led by Dr. Grace Nambatya Kyeyune, has confirmed that Ssenfuka’s formulations contain active compounds with potential effectiveness in animal studies. A government press release in August 2025 documented ongoing collaboration between NCRI and Ssenfuka.

Government support for this research is evident: President Museveni personally endorsed it, Vice President Jesca Alupo was appointed to oversee the project, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation under Dr. Monica Musenero pledged backing.

Collaborations with U.S. researchers and companies, including Dei BioPharma led by Dr. Mathias Magoola, are exploring advanced treatments for diabetes and cancer. These efforts combine traditional herbal medicine with modern biomedical techniques, but they remain at the research and development stage, not cures.

For malaria, authorities continue to support ongoing drug development initiatives. However, our investigation found no direct connection to Ssenfuka’s research or evidence of a completed breakthrough cure.

While President Museveni's statement reflects these breakthroughs and ongoing efforts, the research is at stages where these treatments could potentially become cures, pending completed human trials and regulatory confirmation. Thus, as of now, these remain promising developments rather than fully proven, widely available cures.

From a fact-checking perspective, the verdict on President Museveni's claim that Ugandan scientists have found a cure for diabetes, cancer, and malaria would be classified as premature or unverified.

The reported breakthroughs come from early-stage research and promising developments, but none have yet passed the full spectrum of human clinical trials, peer-reviewed validation, and regulatory approval required to officially declare a cure.

The word "cure" implies complete eradication and reliable treatment outcomes in all patients, which, for these complex diseases, requires more conclusive evidence than currently available.

The developments reflect important progress and potential treatments that may change outcomes positively in the future, but as of now, these remain experimental or in the approval pipeline.

Announcing cures prematurely can create unrealistic public expectations, which could undermine trust if further trials do not confirm efficacy or safety fully.

Hence, the statement is not false but scientifically unconfirmed and speculative until further clinical results and regulatory clearances are achieved.