Capacity Building – Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU)

Training and Professional Development

We support and build the knowledge, competencies and skills of health professionals through formal palliative care training, scholarships, certificate, diploma and degree programmes, and other specialised learning opportunities.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Points

We organise and facilitate accredited learning activities, including update meeting, workshops, seminars, scientific meetings and Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions, through which health professionals earn CPD points while updating their knowledge and skills in palliative care.

Mentorship and Support Supervision

We support and provide ongoing clinical mentorship, coaching and support supervision to healthcare workers and health facilities to strengthen practical skills, improve the quality of palliative care delivery, address service delivery gaps and promote the integration of palliative care into routine health services.

Palliative Care Education History

Palliative care services and education were first introduced in Uganda in 1993, following the establishment of Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU). Initially, palliative care training was delivered through short courses, Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions and clinical placements, equipping healthcare professionals with essential knowledge and practical skills to provide palliative care.

The development of formal palliative care education gained momentum with the establishment of the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA), which introduced certificate and diploma programmes in 2002. This was followed by the introduction of bachelor’s degree programmes in 2011 and master’s and postgraduate programmes in 2021, expanding opportunities for advanced professional training and specialisation in palliative care.

Other institutions have also played an important role in advancing specialised palliative care education. In 2008, the Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences introduced the Higher Diploma in Paediatric Palliative Care, while in 2019, Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery introduced the Advanced Diploma in Palliative Care Nursing.

Our Objective

"To strengthen the capacity of palliative care providers in Uganda through supporting training, continuous professional education, mentorship, and supervision"

Established in 1999, the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) provides national leadership and coordination for the development of palliative care services in Uganda. Its mandate includes promoting palliative care education and training, strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals, and advocating for the integration and expansion of palliative care services.

Through short-course training for both health and non-health professionals, continuing professional development opportunities, mentorship and supportive supervision, PCAU continues to strengthen the knowledge, skills and competencies of the palliative care workforce. These efforts contribute to improving access to quality palliative care services across Uganda.

Although palliative care has been integrated into some health facilities and pre-service training programs, gaps remain in the number of trained work force, practicum opportunities, structured mentorship, and tutor preparedness to deliver palliative care modules.

PCAU aims to addresses these challenges by providing scholarships to health professionals to pursue specialized training for the Advanced Diploma in Palliative Care Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Palliative Care, targeting 39 districts without trained providers.

The Association also coordinates regional mentorship and supportive supervision with the Ministry of Health, deliver short courses and hospital-based CMEs on pain management, strengthen pre-service curricula, establish practicum centers, and advocate for CPD accreditation.

We Urge the government, training institutions, partners, and communities to invest in health worker training and champion palliative care because building one competent provider contributes to expanding access to palliative care, hence improving the quality of lives of patients and their families.

PCAU’s Capacity Building focuses on strengthening the skills and competencies of palliative care providers across Uganda through training, continuous professional development, mentorship, and supervision.

With close to 500,000 people requiring palliative care annually, access remains limited due to gaps in health worker knowledge, specialist training, and equitable distribution of skilled providers, particularly in underserved districts. Many patients continue to experience unmanaged pain and serious health-related suffering, highlighting the need to expand workforce capacity.