CONCEPT NOTE:
Swift Path Solutions Ltd together with the Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL) – Ministry of Health (MOH)–and College of Health Sciences, Makerere University- Pathology Department, present the Uganda Histopathology Fraternity Symposium 2026.
Background:
Histopathology is fundamental to Disease diagnosis, cancer care, surgical decision-making, surveillance, research and medical education. Much as there is already an established pathology community and important academic and laboratory infrastructure in the country, there is currently an aggressive expansion of service points driven by CPHL-MOH to cover mainly the Regional Referral Hospitals in the country.
The continued growth of this sector presents new demands on the histopathology fraternity. These include increasing cancer diagnostic workloads, the need for faster turnaround times, strengthening laboratory quality systems, access to advanced ancillary testing, digital pathology, molecular diagnostics, workforce development and improved linkages between pathology laboratories and clinical services.
The Uganda Histopathology Fraternity Symposium 2026 is expected provide a platform for pathologists, pathology residents, laboratory scientists, histotechnologists, cytotechnologists, researchers, clinicians, academics, students, policy-makers, industry partners and other stakeholders to share knowledge and collectively identify practical strategies for advancing histopathology services in Uganda. The symposium will take place on Thursday 15th October 2026 at Hotel Africana in Kampala under the Theme:
“Advancing Histopathology in Uganda: Innovation, Quality, Capacity and the Future of Diagnostic Pathology”
Objectives
The symposium will aim to:
- Provide a platform for Ugandan histopathology professionals to share current knowledge, research and innovations.
- Discuss the current state, expansion drive and future direction of histopathology services in Uganda.
- Promote improved diagnostic quality, accuracy and turnaround times.
- Explore the application of new technologies in histopathology and pathology.
- Strengthen continuing professional development among members of the fraternity.
- Showcase locally generated research and innovations.
- Encourage collaboration between government, academia, hospitals, laboratories and private-sector partners.
- Discuss workforce development, training and mentorship.
- Promote laboratory quality management and accreditation.
- Create opportunities for exhibitors and industry partners to demonstrate relevant products, technologies and services.
- Develop practical recommendations for strengthening histopathology services nationally.
Program Format
The Symposium 2026 is structured as a comprehensive, full-day intensive conference
beginning at 08:00am with delegate registration, exhibition viewing, and opening remarks led by the Director of Swift Path Solutions.
The morning itinerary quickly shifts into high-gear thematic discussions starting with Plenary Session 1, which explores modern digital pathology, artificial intelligence integration, remote reporting, and cybersecurity frameworks under the guidance of Dr. Musoke Sharif and expert panelists like Dr. Kalungi Samuel. Following a mid-morning networking tea break.
Plenary Session 2 addresses the local landscape, featuring keynotes and panel discussions led by Dr. Caroline Achola and Ms. Basemera Diana on strengthening national pathology services, expanding referral networks, and building robust public-private partnerships across Uganda.
The afternoon program transitions from strategic national framework discussion to practical operational standards, quality control, and advanced diagnostic methodologies. Following a catered networking lunch and commercial partner presentation, Plenary Session 3—headed by Ms. Linda Cherepow along with panelists Ms. Penina Birabwa and Ms. Basemera Diana—focuses on quality assurance, turnaround time monitoring, continuous quality improvement, and practical pathways toward international laboratory accreditation. Plenary Session 4 delves directly into diagnostic precision and cutting-edge laboratory techniques, led by Dr. Robert Lukande alongside Ms. Ruth Mirembe and Ms. Linda Cherepow, to examine the expanding diagnostic thresholds of H&E staining and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the era of digital pathology and automated slide analysis.
Throughout the schedule, the program format prioritizes dynamic interaction and industry engagement by pairing every plenary keynote speaker with a dedicated 30-minute interactive panel Q&A session.
Dedicated sponsor presentation slots and scheduled morning and afternoon tea breaks are strategically built into the timeline to foster networking, knowledge exchange, and commercial technology demonstration. The symposium concludes in the late afternoon with a formal presentation of key policy and practice recommendations by the Managing Director of Swift Path Solutions at 17:00, followed by official closing remarks delivered by The Commissioner CPHL/NHLDS-MOH, Dr. Susan Nabadda at 17:15, consolidating actionable pathways for the future of histopathology in the region.
register here https://shorturl.at/bH9BI
Expected Benefits:
1. Knowledge & Skills Enhancement
●Gain up-to-date insights on best practices, innovations and new technologies in histopathology and pathology
●Participate in skill-building discussions and presentation sessions to improve clinical decision-making and interventions.
2. Networking & Collaboration
●Connect with peers, policymakers, educators, sponsors, and global experts to foster partnerships and cross-institutional collaboration.
●Find opportunities for research partnerships, training programs, and mentorship.
3. Influence on National Strategy
●Contribute to the development of the national roadmap and help shape the future of histopathology in Uganda.
●Voice your local challenges and propose context-specific solutions during policy and strategy sessions.
4. Professional Recognition
●Present research, case studies, or innovations to a national audience.
●Receive certificates of participation or CPD credits, enhancing your professional portfolio.
5. Institutional Capacity Building
●Take back actionable ideas to your hospital or training institution, including scalable models for workforce training, equipment use, or service delivery.
●Influence your institution’s planning and resource mobilization based on evidence and recommendations shared at the conference.