On 18 May 2026, the palliative care community marked one year since the passing of Dr. Anne Merriman, an extraordinary pioneer whose vision, leadership, and lifelong commitment transformed palliative care in Uganda, across Africa, and around the world.
As a founding member of the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU), Dr. Merriman dedicated her life to ensuring that people living with life-limiting illnesses had access to compassionate, holistic care, effective pain management, and the opportunity to live and die with dignity.
To commemorate her remarkable life and legacy, PCAU, along with partners, healthcare providers, communities, and supporters, celebrated her enduring contributions to the growth and advancement of palliative care across Uganda and beyond at Hospice Africa Uganda. Driven by her unwavering belief that freedom from pain is a fundamental human right, Dr. Merriman championed the expansion of quality palliative care through service delivery, education, advocacy, research, and policy development. Her visionary leadership helped lay the foundation for a stronger, more responsive palliative care system that continues to improve the lives of patients and families today.
The most inspiring moments of the commemoration were a reflection session held at Hospice Africa Uganda, where members of school palliative care clubs through Our School Compassionate Community Program (SCCOP) shared how palliative care education has shaped their understanding of compassion, dignity, empathy, and community responsibility. Their heartfelt reflections demonstrated that Dr. Merriman’s vision continues to inspire a new generation of young leaders committed to building compassionate communities.
In honour of her extraordinary contribution and to ensure that her vision continues, PCAU has established the Dr. Anne Merriman Fund – Uganda. The Fund will support sustainable resource mobilization to strengthen access to quality palliative care services across Uganda, enabling more patients and families to receive the compassionate care they deserve. We remain deeply grateful to our partners, supporters, and the wider palliative care community, whose continued commitment is helping carry forward her vision of a future where no one faces pain and serious illness alone.
