Our Membership Approach
One System, Many Voices Our membership model is built on the principle of multidisciplinary inclusivity. We recognize that emergency care is delivered by a team, not just individuals. Therefore, our membership is open to physicians, nurses, pre-hospital providers, and institutions, ensuring that every stakeholder in the ecosystem has a home at ECAU.
Membership Categories
We offer three distinct tiers of membership designed to accommodate professionals at every stage of their career, as well as the institutions that support them
Full Members (Practicing Professionals)
- Who it is for: Registered and practicing emergency care professionals, including Medical Officers, Emergency Physicians, Other specialists. Nurses, Clinical Officers, and Emergency.
Medical Technicians and Paramedics.
Privileges:
Full voting rights at the General Assembly.
Eligibility to run for positions on the Executive Board.
Full access to the CPD Tracking System and Research Repository.
Full Members receive priority access to national conferences, specialized training and clinical toolkits.
Associate Members (Emerging Professionals)
Who it is for: Students (medical, nursing, allied health), Interns, and non-clinical allied professionals interested in emergency care.
Privileges:
Access to mentorship programs like the Young Professionals / Students Forum (Coming soon)
Discounted rates for the Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course and other CPD trainings.
Non-voting participation in the General Assembly (Observer status).
This category nurtures the “pipeline” of future specialists, a key recommendation for national society sustainability.
Institutional Members (System Partners)
Who it is for: Hospitals, Medical Schools, Ambulance Services, EMS organisations and Training Institutions etc.
Privileges:
Organizational recognition on the ECAU website as a “Partner in Care.”
Group discounts for staff training and technical consultancies.
Membership Benefits: Why Join ECAU?
ECAU membership offers tangible professional development tools rather than just status.
Career Development and International Mobility
RCEM Medical Training Initiative (MTI): Full Members are eligible for an official Letter of Recommendation and endorsement to train in the UK NHS for up to 24 months under the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s sponsorship scheme—a benefit prioritized for low-and-middle-income countries.
Priority Trainer Selection: Full Members receive first priority to be trained and certified as Facilitators for ECAU-supported courses (including the WHO Basic Emergency Care course), positioning them as national leaders in education.
CPD Tracking: Exclusive access to the digital CPD Tracking System to log clinical hours and training required for professional licensure renewal.
Research Support and Funding
Research Grant Consideration: Members are eligible to apply for competitive ECAU Research Grants. These funds are allocated by the Research & Innovation Committee to support locally relevant studies that address system barriers in Uganda.
Peer Review Services: Junior researchers receive mentorship and peer review of their protocols by the Research Committee before submission to national ethics boards, ensuring higher success rates.
Repository Access: Full access to the National Research Repository, a database of local emergency care data and findings to support evidence-based practice.
Global Networking and Conferences
AfCEM Sponsorship: Members in good standing will be considered for Sponsorship Packages (covering travel or registration) to attend the African Conference on Emergency Medicine (AfCEM). This aligns with AFEM’s “SUPADEL” (Support a Delegate) initiative to ensure African practitioners can attend regardless of financial status.
Regional Connection: Automatic affiliation with the African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM), granting access to regional interest groups and newsletters.
Event Discounts: Reduced registration fees for the ECAU Annual Scientific Conference and CPD workshops.
Governance and Advocacy
Voting Rights: Full Members have the right to vote for the Executive Board and shape the strategic direction of the association at the General Assembly.
Committee Service: Eligibility to serve on specialized Standing Committees (e.g., OHEC, Nursing, Finance), directly influencing national policy on ambulance standards, nursing protocols, and facility accreditation.
A United Voice: Participation in drafting Position Statements that the Advocacy Committee presents to the Ministry of Health and Parliament to secure resources for emergency care.
Rights and Responsibilities
To ensure a sustainable and ethical organization, as outlined in the IFEM guide for national societies, membership is governed by clear protocols:
Dues and Sustainability: Membership requires the payment of annual subscription fees. Failure to pay dues within the stipulated period (typically one year) results in the forfeiture of good standing and voting rights.
Code of Conduct: All members must adhere to the Conflict of Interest & Ethics Policy. Serious breaches of professional conduct may result in disciplinary measures or revocation of membership.
Governance Participation: The General Assembly, comprising all registered members, acts as the supreme decision-making body, approving strategic plans and electing leadership.
