Over 5 million Ugandans battling mental illness — report

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2024 report has revealed that approximately 12 percent of Ugandans—about 5.5 million people—are facing probable mental health challenges.

The report indicates that the majority of these individuals suffer from common conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.

"Of those, about 1% were reported to have suicide ideas, which is a huge number. This simply means that about 55,000 people in this country could end their lives if nothing is done," said Dr. Juliet Nakku, Executive Director of Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital.

Data from the Ministry of Health’s health information systems shows a rise in the number of people grappling with mental health issues in 2024 compared to 2020.

Significantly, mental health problems associated with alcohol consumption increased by 15.8%, indicating a troubling trend of people drinking themselves into mental illness.

Diagnosed cases of depression rose by 26.8% over the same period, and reported cases of anxiety disorders have doubled.
 
Rising admissions

According to Dr. Nakku, the number of people seeking mental health care at Butabika and other health facilities has increased dramatically.

“If you walked into Butabika hospital now, you would find in excess of 1,300 admitted, which is a huge number to have in one hospital,” Dr. Nakku said.

She added, “The facility has excesses compared to the number of beds that are officially given.” Butabika National Referral Hospital has a capacity of 550 beds. Expansion is currently underway to add 100 more beds—50 for men and 50 for women.

Dr. Nakku emphasized that the situation at Butabika is merely a reflection of the wider mental health crisis in Ugandan communities.
 
Excessive alcohol consumption fueling mental illness

Dr. Nakku attributes much of the rise in mental illness to excessive alcohol use among both men and women.

“In past years, you would hardly see a woman admitted at Butabika hospital because of addiction to alcohol and drugs. But currently the women have a designated ward,” she said.

She estimates that around 30% of the 1,300 patients admitted to the hospital are dealing with alcohol addiction—a substantial proportion.

Other substances contributing to mental illness include cannabis, pethidine injections, miraa (khat), and a drug known locally as "cuba," which is reportedly being sold to students online.

Additional substances of abuse include cocaine ("white sugar"), heroin ("brown sugar"), crystal meth (also known as Ice), and over-the-counter medications with addictive potential, which are often purchased from pharmacies.
 
Risk factors

Dr. Nakku pointed to several risk factors driving alcohol and substance abuse, particularly economic stress following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as more recent health emergencies such as Ebola and Mpox.

Dr. Richard Kyazze, a substance abuse and gambling specialist at Serenity Centre in Bunga, a Kampala suburb, said economic hardship resulting from unemployment and underemployment makes it difficult for people to meet daily obligations.

"This, coupled with societal pressures and competition, compels people to borrow money and live beyond their means," Dr. Kyazze said.

He also cited additional risk factors including violence—whether from war, the streets, or domestic abuse—all of which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.

The rise in alcohol and substance abuse is further exacerbated by easy accessibility. Dr. Kyazze emphasized the need for legislation to regulate access, especially among the youth.

Some people who are battling stress decide to numb their nerves with alcohol. Notably, in some cultures, alcohol is accepted, so people drink it," he said.

Other contributing factors include physical trauma to the head—often from road accidents or assaults—which can lead to PTSD and epilepsy.

Chronic illnesses are also linked to depression and suicide, especially when patients are not adequately supported during their treatment.

Natural disasters like landslides in Eastern Uganda, disease outbreaks such as Ebola and Mpox, and global pandemics like COVID-19, further strain mental health.

“These kinds of disasters require that people are supported to go through them; otherwise, they quickly decompensate because of the situation around them,” Dr. Nakku said.

She emphasized that emergency response strategies should always include mental health support.

Lastly, age is a natural risk factor. As people grow older, they become more prone to conditions such as dementia—particularly those with a genetic predisposition.