The Inaugural Uganda National Conference on Health, Human Rights and Development (UCHD 2023) was jointly hosted by the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) and the Ministry of Health in Uganda from the 26th – 29th September 2023 at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. It was held under the theme: The Right to Health: A vital component in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reflections and discussions were therefore focused on the country’s advancement on realizing the right to health within the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Delegates engaged in deep reflections and discussions of progress, best practices, lessons, persistent challenges and innovative solutions across the five conference tracks which included: health systems strengthening; sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); Health, policy and the law; mental health, harm reduction and wellness and multi-sectoral collaborations, strategic partnerships, coalitions and movements. 

This conference brought together 335 delegates including policy makers and legislators, health rights advocates, academia, researchers, healthcare service users, the youths, students and healthcare service providers. Being the first conference of a national nature, the majority of delegates were from all parts of Uganda with a few international delegates from Kenya, South Africa and USA. A diversity of more than 100 organisations, institutions, coalitions and movements from the national, sub-national and grassroots were represented at the conference. These include: government line ministries, departments and agencies; district local government; civil society organisations including local Non-governmental organisations and community based organisations; International NGOs; academic and learning institutions; professional associations and networks; coalitions, alliances and movements; the media; the private sector; donors, foreign missions and development partners and UN bodies.