On Thursday, May 30th, the Palliative Care Association of Uganda held its Annual General Meeting, which focused on their developments over the past 25 years. There were 174 members and guests in attendance, over two dozen more than PCAU anticipated. PCAU’s Executive Director Mark Mwesiga extended his gratitude to all who participated.

Outgoing Board Chairperson Dr. Henry Ddungu was accompanied by the board secretary and treasurer to lead the meeting. Rev. Cannon Diana Nkesiga led the devotion. PCAU had representatives from 22 organizations and institutions including NGOs, universities and government agencies in attendance. Mwesiga stated, “We are indebted to everyone who traveled many miles from the country to attend the meeting.”

PCAU was honored to welcome a representative of the US Embassy in Kampala, Daniele Nyirandutiye, the mission director for USAID/Uganda, to this meeting. Administrator Nyirandutiye has worked on public health issues across the globe, from the US to Madagascar and now Uganda. Administrator Nyirandutiye currently leads USAID’s Uganda mission to support Ugandan people as they fight to secure a government that respects their priorities and upholds their dignity.

Administrator Nyirandutiye’s attendance was not only a privilege but also a token of the considerable progress in palliative care development in Uganda over the past 25 years. A pioneer national palliative care association in the region, PCAU has upheld its mission of advocating for and supporting the integration of palliative care into Uganda’s healthcare system for a quarter of a century.

This Annual General Meeting allowed PCAU to reflect on how their efforts have yielded compassion, holistic care, pain relief, comfort, hope and justice for the Ugandan people. PCAU published a new mapping on the growth of palliative care in Uganda and launched a digital palliative care information app to mark its 25th anniversary.