By Nasser Kayanja
KAMPALA – Officials from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital have appealed to Members of Parliament to urgently intervene in addressing the rising number of mental health cases across the country, particularly among young people.
While appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (Central), Dr. Juliet Nakku revealed that mental health cases handled by the facility have increased significantly in recent years.
According to Dr. Nakku, the hospital has registered a 70 percent rise in mental illness cases, with approximately 22.9 percent affecting young people.
She attributed the worrying trend to a combination of social and economic pressures, including early school schedules, academic stress, and the challenges many youths face while searching for employment.
“The pressures on young people today are immense, from school demands to the uncertainty of finding jobs. These factors are greatly contributing to the rise in mental health conditions,” she explained.
Dr. Nakku further noted that substance abuse remains a major contributing factor, revealing that about 30 percent of youth admissions at Butabika are linked to alcohol and drug use.
She emphasized the need for stronger preventive measures, including mental health awareness campaigns, early screening in schools, and community-based support systems to address the problem before it escalates.
Members of the committee expressed concern over the increasing burden on the country’s mental health system and called for greater government investment in mental health services, including staffing, infrastructure, and rehabilitation programmes.
Lawmakers also underscored the importance of integrating mental health services into primary healthcare and strengthening regulations to curb drug and substance abuse among young people.
The appeal by Butabika Hospital comes amid growing calls for a coordinated national response to mental health challenges, as Uganda continues to grapple with the social and economic impacts of a rapidly changing environment.
