Mental Health Crisis Deepens as Cases Surge Across Uganda

The Executive Director of Butabika Referral Hospital, Dr. Juliet Nakku, has expressed deep concern over the rising number of Ugandans suffering from mental health issues.

According to Dr. Nakku, of the 20 patients admitted daily, 30% of them are as a result of alcohol addiction and drug substances.

She says that out of every 100 people screened, 30 require hospitalisation a statistic that she finds extremely worrying. She highlighted a significant increase in the number of women affected, largely due to the excessive emotional strain many endure in silence.

Speaking to journalists at the Media Center in Kampala, Dr. Nakku also noted a growing number of mental health cases among school-going children, attributing it to stressful academic environments that deny students adequate rest.

She urged the government to provide funding for the construction of mental health treatment facilities in different regions of the country, as Butabika Hospital alone can no longer accommodate the increasing number of patients.

According to the 2024 UBOS Report, 12%—about 5.5 million Ugandans—suffer from mental health illness.