Uganda’s health sector is gearing up for a renewed push toward sustainability and resilience with the launch of the inaugural Family and Health Expo and Symposium, scheduled to take place from August 1 to 3, 2025, at the UMA Show Grounds in Lugogo.
The three-day event, organized by Copius Health Services in partnership with the Uganda Healthcare Federation (UHF) and the Ministry of Health, is being positioned as a turning point for the country’s healthcare agenda.
It will provide free medical services to thousands of Ugandans and serve as a strategic convening space for stakeholders to explore long-term solutions to persistent challenges in domestic health financing, disease prevention, and innovation in service delivery.
Speaking ahead of the event, Brian Bogere of Copius Health Services described the expo as more than a health fair, calling it a national platform for collaborative engagement across the sector.
“It’s a strategic platform where all stakeholders—from policymakers to health workers—can come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and push for a stronger, more preventive-focused health system,” Bogere said.
He added that the event comes at a critical time when Uganda must shift toward locally driven health initiatives due to declining international support for preventive care.
“This event is a rallying call. We are saying, let’s not wait for external support—let’s unite and drive change from within.”
Throughout the three days, Ugandans will have access to free general medical checkups, cancer screenings, eye examinations, blood donation drives, and other essential health services. These offerings will be open to people of all ages, including children, youth, adults, and the elderly.
In an effort to close awareness gaps and engage younger demographics, the expo will feature a Youth Platform—a dedicated space where health education will be delivered through interactive and entertaining formats. Key topics will include mental health, personal hygiene, and disease prevention.
Sarah Namyalo, President of the Uganda Midwives Association, emphasized the event’s commitment to improving maternal and child health.
She said the association would focus on providing family planning services, as well as cervical and breast cancer screenings.
“We hope to reach expectant mothers, young girls, and adolescents with critical services. If we can detect conditions like cervical or breast cancer early, we can save lives,” she said, noting that prevention will be central to reducing Uganda’s maternal mortality rate.
The Family and Health Expo will officially open with a High-Level Symposium on Friday, August 1, bringing together senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, the Office of the President, and leaders from the private health sector.
The forum is expected to address three key policy areas: increasing the uptake of health insurance, leveraging digital tools to improve rural health access, and identifying sustainable domestic financing mechanisms to reduce reliance on foreign aid.
Ritah Namutebi, a representative from the Uganda Healthcare Federation, said the symposium will be a bold step in shifting Uganda’s healthcare model from reactive to preventive.
“We are bringing public and private players together to find lasting solutions. Strengthening our systems begins with dialogue, partnerships, and commitment,” she said.
Namutebi called on media houses and the general public to help amplify the message of the expo.
“Access to information is access to healthcare. The more people know, the healthier our communities will be.”
Other health partners are also lending their voices to the call for participation.
Euniky Musimenta, Community Engagement Officer at the Uganda Sickle Cell Foundation, expressed concern over the low levels of testing for sickle cell disease in the country.
“Only about one percent of Ugandans have tested for sickle cell. This event gives us a rare opportunity to test, educate, and empower people to manage the condition. We invite parents, youth, and couples to come and know their status.”
Additional services will be provided by partners such as Lapaire and the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, who are calling on the public—particularly young people—to take advantage of the free health screenings, eye checkups, and blood donation activities available at the expo. According to organizers, these interventions are vital in promoting early detection and long-term disease prevention.
With thousands of Ugandans expected to attend, the Family and Health Expo is being billed as a transformative platform to realign the national conversation on healthcare—moving it toward prevention, community ownership, and sustainable investment in health systems.
