The PCAU Annual Dinner, a tradition formalized during a PCAU Board meeting in 2016, has been a cornerstone of the organization’s efforts to advance palliative care in Uganda. This year, the Silver Jubilee Dinner marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 25 years of dedicated service in Uganda.

A Look Back: The History of PCAU Annual Dinners

• 2016: The inaugural dinner raised funds to purchase land for New Life Hospice Arua (NELIHA).
  
• 2017: The second dinner supported Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja with a vehicle and funds for a permanent home.
  
• 2018: The third dinner contributed to the renovation of Mobile Hospice Mbarara and commemorated 25 years of Hospice Africa Uganda.
  
• 2019: The fourth dinner, PCAU Celebrated 20 years of existence and supported Kitovu Mobile in Masaka to acquire a mobile clinic for cancer screening and palliative care services.
  
• 2020: The fifth dinner brought PCAU Members together to celebrate resilience for the continuity of Palliative care providers amidst COVID-19. It was held with the National Religious Council and PCAU Fraternity at the Fairway Hotel in Kampala.
  
• 2021: The Sixth Annual Fundraising members’ get-together was held in western Uganda. It was aimed at supporting the transport needs of children with Cancer from rural communities to continue and complete their treatment. It was held in Mbarara at the Lake View Hotel.
  This birthed the Special Hearts to Nurture Every Child (SHiNE ) Program.
  
• 2022: The Seventh Annual Fundraising dinner was held at Fairway Hotel, in Kampala to strengthen Palliative Care in the Northern region, in collaboration with St. Kizito Maternal Hospital in Karamoja.
  
• 2023: The eighth Annual Fundraising dinner was held in 2023. PCAU launched a Uganda National Palliative Care Directory. This is an important document profiling the presence of palliative care services in Uganda. Health workers referring patients and families can utilize this to reach colleagues in the respective health facilities.  At the dinner, a new organization: Cancer Disabilities Advocacy Centre (CADAC) was launched. This is an NGO dedicated to empowering individuals facing cancer-related disabilities.  The dinner offered an opportunity to recognize some of the key institutions that have supported the development of palliative care in Uganda over the last 30 years. These were the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), American Cancer Society (ACS), National Medical Stores (NMS), Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), and St. Francis Hospital Nsambya.

The 9^th PCAU Members Annual Get-together and Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner

The Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner, scheduled for December 6, 2024, from 6:00 pm at Silver Springs Hotel Bugolobi, will:

• Expand and strengthen specialist palliative care services to 39 Districts without this service.
• Celebrate 25 years of remarkable achievements in palliative care.
• A portion of the funds raised will support Kawempe Home Care to Purchase a home for children fighting Cancer.

By recognizing the past and embracing the future, we aim to address the significant gap in the availability and access to palliative care in Uganda.

Join us as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future of palliative care in Uganda.