‘Hubs around universities worsen drug problem’

KAMPALA - Uganda ought to start a discussion on the country’s high burden of substance abuse sooner rather than later, experts say. 

The call comes barely months after a legislator caused the arrest and incarceration of his two biological children over drug addiction. 

Ferigo Kambale, the Kasese Municipality MP, accuses his two adult sons of dropping out of Uganda Christian University and Makerere University Business School in favour of smoking opium. 

Dr Raymond Odokonyero, the president of the Uganda Psychiatric Association, said drug addiction is a disease that needs to be treated in a hospital. 

He said the delay in bringing this conversation to the fore is causing a rise in drug abuse.
Stop the drug supply, distribution 

Odokonyero said the solutions should start with finding answers to how drugs are getting into the country and who is in the business. 

It is no surprise that university students are using drugs because all the drug hubs are now around universities. 

“Who is supplying the drugs, and why is law enforcement not doing anything about it? Dependence does not come after one try; it is a process of taking drugs for years,” he said. 

Low funding 

Odokonyero said the health sector receives only 1% of the national health budget, which is against the World Health Organisation recommendations of at least 33%. 

“So we are stuck with one national mental health hospital, Butabika, which really has a bad name. Not many want to go there to get services [because of the stigma attached to its name],” he said. 

Why the problem is rising  

Odokonyero said drugs are easily getting into the country.

“The question of how big the problem is, is no longer a problem anymore,” he said, adding that about 10 years ago, Uganda was known as a transit route through which drugs found their way to Europe and America. Today, Uganda is a drug destination,” he said.

Time bomb no more  

“In the past, we said mental health was a time bomb, but think about it this way; the bomb has gone off. People should wait to count the destruction. Our children are not safe,” Odokonyero said. 

Asked how parents can deal with the problem now and protect their children, he said they should increase their interaction with them. 

“Talk to your children. Talk about this conversation not only about drugs, but also about sexuality and mental health. These must be heard at any opportunity,” he said. 

Dr Hafsa Lukwata, the head of division mental health at the health ministry, said the Government has enough addiction experts in the country. 

“If you walk into any regional referral hospital, you should be able to get help,” she said.

Like Odokonyero, she agreed that the problem was getting out of hand. Lukwata said this is so because of a growing youth demographic and dealers targeting young people.

Prof. Noelina Nakasujja, the head of the department of psychiatry at Makerere University, wants more concerted government efforts to combat addiction. 

“People with addiction often have one or more associated health issues, which could include lung or heart disease, stroke, cancer, or mental health conditions,” she said. 

This story was first published in the New Vision on August 26, 2023.