The Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Paul Ssemogerere, has urged Ugandans to treat individuals experiencing mental health challenges with love, respect, and dignity.
While leading a Eucharistic celebration to mark the Day of Mental Health Awareness at Lubaga Cathedral on Thursday, attended by married couples (Ssabafumbos and Nabafumbos), Archbishop Ssemogerere condemned the widespread stigma, discrimination, and myths surrounding mental illness.
He noted that such attitudes not only isolate those affected but also worsen their conditions.
The Archbishop expressed concern over the tendency among families and communities to delay proper care for individuals showing symptoms of mental illness, often turning instead to witchcraft and traditional beliefs, which he said further, deteriorate the individual’s condition.
He appealed to the public to increase awareness and understanding of mental health, which he described as one of the most pressing health concerns in Uganda today.
Current statistics estimate that 35% of Uganda’s population is affected by mental health disorders, well above the global average.
Globally, mental health challenges are particularly common among school-going adolescents, with prevalence rates of 50.2% for depression and 43.6% for anxiety disorders.
In a solemn moment at the ceremony, Archbishop Ssemogerere lit a candle of hope in memory and prayer for individuals battling mental illness, including those who have lost their lives to suicide.
By Francis Jjunju
16th May 2025
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