UNHCO is a not for profit, Non-Governmental advocacy organisation operating across Uganda. We envision a Uganda where the healthcare system guarantees full enjoyment of the right to health by all people. UNHCO exist to promote full integration and implementation of the rights based approach in Uganda’s health sector through meaningful citizen-duty bearer engagement in healthcare planning and delivery.
The main activities of UNHCO include; advocacy for the right to health, research, social mobilization for health, capacity building, building partnerships and networking and social accountability for health. Through these activities and approaches, UNHCO has made a number of achievements as follows;
UNHCO made her mark in national level advocacy when it spearheaded the formulation of a Patient’s Charter for Uganda which provides an overall framework for empowerment of health consumers to demand for high quality healthcare and promote accountability. The charter was adopted by the Ministry of Health and it is being implemented in the health sector. It is currently working with Members of Parliament on “Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities Bill” to operationalize the Charter and with Makerere University School of Public Health on Universal Health Coverage in Uganda.
UNHCO was elected to lead and represent Civil Society and community at different forums including the Health Policy Advisory Committee the highest policy making body in the ministry of health.
UNHCO is a member of the International Alliance of Patients Organisation. UNHCO headed the Secretariat of the Eastern and Southern African hub of the Community of Practitioners on Accountability and Social Action in Health (COPASAH) from inception in 2012 to 2017; a member of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA), a body that brings together researchers and practitioners in social accountability across the globe.