This year’s Uganda Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care was the 4th in a row that PCAU has held in partnership with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). Yet, this was the 11th biennial conference hosted by PCAU. The 1st PCAU Scientific Conference was held in 2003. Like all the previous conferences, the 2023 conference brought together several national and international delegates. 

During the 2 days on 14th and 15th Sept 2023 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, at least 450 clinicians, academics, human rights advocates, lawyers, clergy, researchers, social workers, policymakers, MoH officials, and donors gathered. They were from over 40 organizations and 13 countries. Delegates came from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Japan, India, and the USA. The conference was delivered under 6 tracks. We had 19 plenary presentations across 4 plenary sessions, 67 oral breakout presentations, 5 workshops, and 47 poster presentations. 

Like in the past conferences, PCAU will endeavor to follow up on all resolutions and actions of the conference and to translate these into valuable initiatives to advance the availability and access to palliative care in Uganda.

We are greatly appreciative of all partners and sponsors for this conference who were: – American Cancer Society (ACS), Burdett Trust for Nursing, Centre for Hospice Care (CHC), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU), International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), Palliative care Education and Research Consortium, University of Edinburgh Global Health Academy, University of Edinburgh School of Health in Social Science, African Palliative Care Association (APCA), Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) and Mulago National Referral Hospital. 

We extend my appreciation to the leadership of UCI for its continued partnership with PCAU.

Lastly, all staff of UCI, PCAU, and every individual who was a part of the conference organizing committee worked so hard for this to happen. Thank you!  

By Lisa Christine Irumba
Research and Information Manager

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