Eight palliative care organisations exist in Uganda and deliver some 155 services (Table 1)

 Table 1 Palliative care provision in Uganda, 2004

 Hospice Africa Uganda was founded in 1993 to care for cancer and HIV/AIDS patients and give support to family members². In the past, most referrals came from hospitals; now, an increasing number originate from community vigilantes (trained carers who identify patients in the community in need of the hospice’s services). Hospice Africa Uganda also incorporates Mobile Hospice Mbarara and Little Hospice Hoima, both established in 1998³ (Table 2).

The Mildmay Centre opened in Kampala in September 1998, having previously received an invitation from the Uganda AIDS Commission to establish an AIDS care and Training centre on land donated by the government (Table 3).⁴

Joy Hospice opened in Mbale in 2001 to care for AIDS and cancer patients; provision includes a 5-bedded inpatient unit, home care service and clinic.⁵

Kitovu Mobile Home Care was founded by the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1987 as a response to the AIDS pandemic. Patients frequently self-refer by presenting themselves at one of the centres. Other referrals come from family members, parish priests, community volunteers, local hospitals, TASO (in Masaka), or Hospice Africa Uganda after patients return home (Table 3). Palliative care has been grafted onto their support service since 2000.

The Palliative Care Unit; Lira Regional Referral Hospital consists of a 1-bed facility supplemented by a hospital support service and home care service.⁶

Association François-Xavier Bagnoud (AFXB)⁷ began a home care service in Luwero in January 2003.⁸

Table 2 Patients cared for by Hospice Africa Uganda

Table 3 Activity report: Kitovu Home Care and Mildmay International ( Uganda)

* Figures published Sept 2003 † figures at March 2004 ⁹