When was the Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025 launched?
On June 5, 2025, the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala was a hive of energy and purpose as stakeholders from Uganda’s health sector, private industry, religious institutions, and youth organizations convened to launch the Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025. Scheduled for August 1 to 3 at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo, this landmark event promises to address Uganda’s pressing healthcare challenges through innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to preventive care. Organized by the Uganda Healthcare Federation (UHF) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Copious Health Services, and NRG Radio, the launch underscored the urgency of reimagining health financing and delivery in a nation facing a shrinking global aid landscape and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
The event featured a diverse array of speakers, including Dr. Grace Kiwanuka, Executive Director of the Uganda Healthcare Federation; Dr. Timothy Rusirire, representing the Ministry of Health; Mr. Brian Bogere, Executive Director of Copious Health Services; Apostle Dr. Joseph Sserwadda, Presiding Apostle of Born Again Faith in Uganda; Dr. Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, Chairman of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA); and His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronimos Muzeeyi, Archbishop of the Holy Metropolis of Kampala and All Uganda, representing the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda. Their speeches wove a compelling narrative of resilience, innovation, and shared responsibility, emphasizing that health is a multisectoral endeavor requiring the engagement of communities, businesses, and faith-based organizations.
A Health Sector at a Crossroads | Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025
Dr. Timothy Rusirire, a senior official from the Ministry of Health, set a sobering tone by highlighting the stark reality that healthcare is the leading cause of household impoverishment in Uganda. “Families dispose of assets to care for someone who is ill, and then they are left impoverished,” he said, noting that Uganda’s per capita health expenditure is approximately $45, with households bearing 40% out-of-pocket and development partners historically contributing another 40%. However, with global partners like USAID and the CDC scaling back support, the burden on individuals has intensified. Rusirire called for innovative solutions to bridge the funding gap, emphasizing the need to rethink health financing and distribution.
He also addressed systemic inefficiencies, criticizing unnecessary diagnostic tests and the high cesarean section rates in the private sector, which he described as a “resource transfer from families” that borders on unethical. “We need to make decisions in the interest of our people,” he urged, advocating for compassion and accountability across both public and private sectors.
The Private Sector’s Pivotal Role | Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025
Dr. Grace Kiwanuka, Executive Director of the Uganda Healthcare Federation, brought a dynamic perspective on the private sector’s role in addressing these challenges. Since its founding in 2010, UHF has been a voice for non-state actors, advocating for policies that enable private health providers to complement government efforts. “The private sector is not just about profit,” she asserted, countering the stereotype that private entities prioritize financial gain over public good. “If you’re not making a profit, you won’t be in business tomorrow. But out of that comment comes an opportunity to explain ourselves.”
Kiwanuka highlighted UHF’s 15-year collaboration with faith-based organizations and the Ministry of Health, including monthly community health camps and health walks conducted in partnership with KACITA. These initiatives, she argued, embed health as a shared responsibility. “Health is a multisectoral issue,” she said. “We know what we eat, when we sleep, what we do on our way to work. Your health is your responsibility.”
The Family Health Expo will feature a symposium with expert talks, CPR training, and preventive health panels, alongside an exhibition showcasing health innovations. Networking sessions will foster partnerships, while a health walk and workout will promote physical activity. A youth platform, in collaboration with NRG Radio, will engage Uganda’s young population—over 50% of the country’s demographic—through tailored messaging and activities. “The youth are our biggest asset,” Kiwanuka said. “We have a responsibility to ensure they understand their role in health.”
Business as a Force for Health
Dr. Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, Chairman of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), brought a unique perspective as a business leader advocating for health. KACITA, a multi-sectoral business association with over 3 million subscribers, represents the private sector’s interests and has been instrumental in policy formation and community engagement. Nagenda emphasized the need for the business community to prioritize health, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic when inspections revealed that many buildings lacked basic sanitation and ventilation. “The business community should embrace initiatives like this expo,” he said, pledging KACITA’s support for health-focused projects.
Nagenda shared an ambitious vision for transforming the Uganda Line Business Cooperative into a fully-fledged Uganda Business Bank, alongside initiatives in agribusiness, manufacturing, and consultancy. He called for greater private sector involvement in politics, especially in an election year, to influence policies impacting health and business. “Why can’t the private sector team up and be influential in the politics of this country?” he asked, encouraging business leaders to shape Uganda’s future.
The Youth and Preventive Care
Mr. Brian Bogere, Executive Director of Copious Health Services, brought a personal and passionate perspective to the launch. Having recently returned to Uganda after years abroad, Bogere was driven by a desire to address the health challenges facing the country’s youth and adolescents. He highlighted post-COVID trends, including spikes in HIV cases, suicides, and teenage pregnancies. “There are so many challenges out there that students and teachers are facing,” he said, emphasizing the need for collective action involving parents, educators, and community leaders.
Copious Health Services focuses on preventive healthcare, targeting schools and communities to instill healthy habits early. “Parents don’t just take students to schools and leave them there,” Bogere said. “You need to follow up.” His call to action was clear: health is a collective effort, and the expo is a platform to foster partnerships, share knowledge, and empower communities through education and early detection.
The Moral Imperative of Faith
His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronimos Muzeeyi, Archbishop of the Holy Metropolis of Kampala and All Uganda, represented the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, underscoring the spiritual dimension of health. “As religious leaders, we extend our appreciation to the Uganda Healthcare Federation for organizing this expo,” he said. He emphasized the council’s role in advocating for peace, health policies, and spiritual support, noting that faith and healing are inseparable. “The family is our first institution of learning,” he said, praising the expo’s focus on family health as a cornerstone of national development.
Archbishop Muzeeyi expressed concern about the absence of a national health insurance scheme and the increasing financial burden on families due to out-of-pocket healthcare costs. He called for sustainable financing mechanisms and urged the government to increase health sector funding beyond the current 6.1% of the national budget, which falls short of the 15% Abuja Declaration target. “We commit to avail our spiritual leadership to deliver messages on healthy living and primary prevention,” he pledged, emphasizing the council’s role in shifting mindsets and fostering a culture of prevention.
A Spotlight on Specialized Care | Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025
Apostle Dr. Joseph Sserwadda, Presiding Apostle of Born Again Faith in Uganda, delivered a poignant message about the broader societal implications of health. Reflecting on global health challenges, he cited recent flooding in Nigeria compounded by cholera outbreaks, praying that Uganda be spared such crises. “If we can have healthy people, we can take care of ourselves in other aspects of life,” he said. Sserwadda called for proactive measures to address the health needs of young people, families, and communities, urging leaders to prioritize health investments.
The event also featured insights from the Uganda Optometry Association, represented by a speaker who clarified the roles of optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians. With only about 70 home-grown optometrists in Uganda, the association has been lobbying for greater integration of eye care into the public sector, despite budget constraints. “We’re trying to work with schools because children’s eye health is critical for their education,” the speaker noted, inviting collaboration with educational institutions.
A Call to Action
Mr. Uma Ismail, a key organizer from Copious Health Services, outlined the expo’s objectives: promoting preventive healthcare, facilitating public-private partnerships, empowering communities through education and screenings, and strengthening Uganda’s healthcare system through collaboration. “We want to start from the family level,” he said, emphasizing early detection and community engagement. The expo will feature a health walk, workout sessions, and a youth platform tailored to engage young people in their own language and style.
Ismail called for increased investment in health innovations, particularly in light of reduced donor funding. “We need to work with local businessmen, organized groups, to move hand in hand,” he said, inviting stakeholders to register, partner, and mobilize communities for the August event. The expo is free to the public, with opportunities for businesses to showcase innovations through sponsorship.
Addressing Urgent Gaps
The launch did not shy away from Uganda’s stark health challenges. With a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:25,000—far below the World Health Organization’s recommended 1:1,000—the strain on the health system is evident. Non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes account for 33% of deaths, while issues like teenage pregnancies, mental health, and drug abuse among youth remain pressing concerns. The absence of a national health insurance scheme exacerbates these challenges, pushing families into poverty to afford care.
Speakers highlighted specific issues, such as the low rate of prostate cancer screening among Ugandan men, particularly in prisons, where only 5% of eligible men are screened. “If you are above 40, plan to have a prostate cancer screening,” urged one speaker, emphasizing early detection as a critical yet underutilized tool.
A Movement for a Healthier Uganda
The Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025 is more than an event—it is, as Brian Bogere described, “a movement toward innovation, equity, empowerment, and collective action.” The launch at the Imperial Royale Hotel was a testament to the power of collaboration, uniting voices from government, private sector, faith communities, and youth advocates. As Uganda navigates a challenging health financing landscape, the expo offers a platform to innovate, network, and empower communities to take charge of their health.
With NRG Radio amplifying the youth voice, KACITA bridging the business-health divide, and the Inter-Religious Council lending moral weight, the event promises to be a catalyst for change. As Dr. Grace Kiwanuka aptly put it, “Your health is your responsibility.” The Family Health Expo and Symposium 2025 is an invitation to every Ugandan to embrace that responsibility and build a healthier, more resilient nation together.
For more information or to register for the Family Health Expo and Symposium, visit the Uganda Healthcare Federation or Copious Health Services websites. The event is free and open to the public, running from August 1 to 3, 2025, at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo.
