Background Cervical cancer is the commonest cancer of women in Uganda. Over 80% of women diagnosed in Mulago a national outpatient and teaching hospital have advanced diseases. Pap smear screening, on an opportunistic rather than systematic basis, is offered free in the gynecological outpatients’ clinic and the postnatal/family planning clinic. One of the objectives of the study was to obtain women’s knowledge, acceptance and willingness to use self-sampling before the development of the cervical cancer screening intervention with a self-sampling device.

Methods The study employed a qualitative approach. This was conducted among women and community representatives through Focus Group Discussions. This study was conducted in the districts of Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso in Uganda to obtain women’s input before starting the development of cervical cancer screening intervention with a self-sampling device.

Results The majority of the women expressed positive responses towards a self-sampling device as a very good initiative and were willing to use it if proved effective. Women share perceived benefits as promoting privacy, saving time spent at the clinic, preventing stigma, and solving transport concerns hence promoting cervical cancer screening. Women further preferred self-sampling over standard practices because of no embarrassment and not seem painful. The preferred ways to inform women about the results of self-sampling included designated counselling rooms at health facilities, on the phone if the results are negative, and one-on-one.

Conclusion Self-sampling is a crucial initiative and will be welcomed by women however, there is a need to engage, sensitize and involve the target population like policymakers, health workers, politicians, local leaders, policymakers, women leaders (groups), and any other key influential individuals at the community level on the benefits and how to use it before it is rolled out for buy-in.