Hospice Africa Uganda

What Hospice Africa Uganda does

Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) is a non-governmental, non-profit charitable organization founded in September 1993 by Dr. Anne Merriman in Makindye, Kampala, to deliver affordable and accessible palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses in Uganda. It operates three clinical sites — Kampala (headquarters), Little Hospice Hoima (Midwestern Uganda, established 1996), and Mobile Hospice Mbarara (Southwestern Uganda, established 1998) — supplemented by 11 monthly outreach and roadside clinics serving urban informal settlements (Katanga, Kasokoso, Namuwongo-Kisugu) and refugee settlements (Kyangwali, Nakivale). Services include holistic palliative care addressing physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement needs, delivered at clinics, through home visits, and at hospital-based partnerships with Mulago National Referral Hospital and the Uganda Cancer Institute.

HAU's technical core is its licensed Morphine Production Unit in Kampala, which manufactures affordable oral liquid morphine in two strengths (5mg/5ml and 50mg/5ml) under cGMP standards, licensed by the National Drug Authority, and supplied nationwide through National Medical Stores and Joint Medical Stores under a 2010 Public Private Partnership with the Ugandan Government. Adjacent technical and educational capacity is delivered through the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA), which offers certificate, diploma, bachelor's, and master's programmes in partnership with Makerere University and has trained over 10,000 African healthcare professionals, including Africa's first Master's in Palliative Care cohort (graduated 2023). The International Programmes division provides training and technical assistance to other African countries introducing palliative care.

HAU's business model is charitable rather than commercial: all palliative care services and oral liquid morphine are provided free of charge to patients, with no patient turned away for inability to pay. Funding derives from individual donations (collected via JustGiving, DonorBox, PayPal, GlobalGiving, and MTN/Airtel mobile money through four international support affiliates in Ireland, the UK, France, and the USA), Government of Uganda allocations for morphine supply, and institutional partners including the American Cancer Society (capital donation of the automated Morphine Production Unit in 2011) and Irish Aid (funding the 2025 Dr Anne Merriman Excellence in Palliative Care in Africa Award). Patient segmentation covers critically ill adults, women with cervical cancer (Road to Care, 423 women supported in 2023/24), children of patients (Give a Chance educational programme), and African healthcare professionals seeking palliative care credentials.

Name

Hospice Africa Uganda

Legal name

Hospice Africa Uganda

Website

https://hospice-africa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hospice Africa Uganda is a non-profit palliative care organization operating three clinical sites in Uganda, manufacturing licensed oral liquid morphine nationwide, and training African healthcare professionals through its education institute IHPCA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Routine In-Home Hospice Care (HSABAFAA), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF), Hospice Medication, DME & Supply Management (In-Home Logistics) (HSABAFAN), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK), Community-Based Palliative Care (Home-Based Non-Hospice) (HLADAHAH), Hospice Care in Nursing Facilities (SNF/NH Hospice) (HLADAHAD)

Keywords

• Palliative care services
• Hospice care Uganda
• Oral morphine production
• Medical education programmes
• Pain management Africa

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary funding comes from donations through various international payment platforms (UK JustGiving, Ireland DonorBox, France PayPal, US PayPal) and mobile money options in Uganda (MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, FlexiPay). The organization receives funding from various countries including UK, Ireland, USA, and France for programs like Give a Chance.
2. Government Partnership for Morphine Supply: Operates under a Public Private Partnership with the Ugandan Government (2010) to supply oral liquid morphine for all of Uganda. The Government of Uganda allocates funding to ensure availability of free oral liquid morphine for patients. Operates under contract with National Medical Stores (NMS) to supply accredited health facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hospice Africa Uganda provides holistic palliative care — addressing physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement needs — to patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-limiting illnesses through three clinical sites in Uganda (Kampala, Hoima, Mbarara), home visits, and 11 monthly outreach clinics including in refugee settlements. It manufactures affordable oral liquid morphine under license from the Ministry of Health for nationwide distribution via National Medical Stores, and trains healthcare professionals across Africa through the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA) in partnership with Makerere University. All patient services are provided free of charge.

Product overview

Hospice Africa Uganda operates as a unified palliative care organization offering a coordinated portfolio of services. The core offering centers on Holistic Palliative Care delivered at three clinical sites (Kampala, Hoima, and Mbarara), supported by an in-house Morphine Production Unit manufacturing affordable oral liquid morphine for pain management. Education is provided through the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA), which offers academic programmes from short courses to Master's degrees in partnership with Makerere University. The International Programmes division extends palliative care across Africa through training and technical assistance. Additional support services include the Daycare Programme, Road to Care Programme for cervical cancer patients, Give a Chance educational programme for children, and Patient Support/Comfort Fund for financial assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Holistic Palliative Care Core clinical service providing holistic palliative care (physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement support) to patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-limiting illnesses through three sites in Kampala, Hoima, and Mbarara, including outpatient consultations, home visits, daycare, hospital-based palliative care, and outreach clinics.
• Oral Liquid Morphine Production Licensed manufacturing of affordable oral liquid morphine in two strengths (5mg/5ml green label and 50mg/5ml red label) under license from the Ministry of Health and cGMP standards, licensed by the National Drug Authority, and supplied nationwide to accredited health facilities through National Medical Stores.
• Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA) Education Programmes Education and training centre offering certificates, diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, and Master's degrees in palliative care, including distance learning options, in partnership with Makerere University. Has trained over 10,000 healthcare professionals from across Africa.
• International Programmes Division providing training, advocacy, and technical assistance to African countries and partner organisations to help them initiate and sustain palliative care services, including support for establishing local morphine production.
• Road to Care Programme Programme supporting vulnerable women diagnosed with early cervical cancer with access to oncology treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, including hostel accommodation near Mulago Hospital.
• Give a Chance Programme Educational support programme funding primary, secondary, and vocational education for children who are cancer survivors or whose families have been affected by serious illness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ patients reached with palliative care over 30+ years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• African Palliative Care Association (APCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025APCA partnered with Irish Aid to administer the Dr Anne Merriman Excellence in Palliative Care in Africa Award. The award was launched at the 8th International African Palliative Care & Allied Services Conference organised by APCA in Gaborone, Botswana. APCA will select the winner through a panel of experts in African palliative care.
• Ugandan GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010HAU entered Public Private Partnership with Ugandan Government in 2010 to supply oral liquid morphine for all of Uganda. Government allocates funding to ensure free morphine for patients.
• Makerere UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993IHPCA delivers academic programmes (Master's, Bachelor's, Diplomas) in partnership with Makerere University, which confers the degrees upon successful completion.
• Mulago National Referral HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993HAU provides hospital-based palliative care in partnership with Mulago National Referral Hospital, one of Uganda's major national referral facilities.
• Uganda Cancer InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAU partners with the Uganda Cancer Institute to provide integrated palliative care services for cancer patients at the institute.
• Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAU was invited to Mbarara in 1995 to teach palliative care at MUST, leading to establishment of a dedicated palliative care service in the region.
• National Medical Stores (NMS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHAU operates under contract with NMS to supply all accredited health facilities across Uganda with oral liquid morphine.
• Joint Medical StoresmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes oral liquid morphine from NMS to private health facilities across Uganda.
• Hospice Africa IrelandmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational support organization raising awareness and funds for HAU activities in Ireland.
• Hospice Africa UKmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational support organization raising awareness and funds for HAU activities in the United Kingdom.
• Hospice Africa FrancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational support organization raising awareness and funds for HAU activities in France.
• Hospice Africa USAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational support organization raising awareness and funds for HAU activities in the United States.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cicely Saunders International: UK-based palliative care research and education charity. Comparable in research, training, and advocacy for palliative care; broader scope but historical peer in building palliative care as a discipline.
• Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA): Global umbrella body for hospice and palliative care organizations, based in the UK. Overlapping mission in training, advocacy, and policy; broader scope but comparable organizational function and donor ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Hospice Africa UK: UK-based support organization fundraising and advocating for the Hospice Africa network, including HAU. Sister organization with shared mission and historical DNA from Dr. Merriman's work; highly comparable in mission and donor base.
• Hospice Africa Ireland: Irish support arm for the Hospice Africa network, raising funds and awareness for HAU. Sister organization with shared origins and mission; directly comparable in donor base and advocacy function.
• Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA): National palliative care coordinating and advocacy body in Kenya providing training, clinical standards, and morphine access work. Operates a similar model to HAU in a neighboring East African country with comparable disease burden.
• African Palliative Care Association (APCA): Continental coordinating body for palliative care headquartered in Botswana. Directly comparable as a pan-African palliative care organization promoting training, advocacy, and policy — and an existing strategic partner of HAU through the Dr. Merriman Award administration.
• Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA): National membership organization for hospice and palliative care providers across South Africa. Comparable in coordinating hospice service delivery, training, advocacy, and morphine access at national scale.

Peers

• International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC):

Emerging players

• Pallium India: Indian non-profit focused on accessible pain relief and palliative care, with emphasis on opioid access and training. Highly comparable mission and operating model in a different geography; often cited alongside HAU as a model for low-resource palliative care.

Regional players

• Mildmay Uganda: Uganda-based non-profit providing HIV/AIDS and palliative care services including training. Comparable as a Uganda-headquartered NGO delivering clinical palliative services and health professional training, though focused on HIV.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HospiceAfricaUg
• Facebookfacebook.com/HAU.CommunityVolunteers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hospice-africa-uganda
• Instagraminstagram.com/hospiceafrica?igsh=NGZxdnRiYzlrbHVu
• TikToktiktok.com/@hospiceafricauganda?_t=ZM-8y6TWjh1Zzh&_r=1

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hospice Africa Uganda