The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Esther Anyakun, has called for greater attention to workers’ mental wellbeing as Uganda prepares to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, 2026.
In a statement issued ahead of the commemoration, Anyakun said this year’s theme—“Building Psychosocial Resilience: Sustaining Uganda's OSH Gains through Mental Wellbeing and Organizational Strengthening”—highlights the urgent need to address mental health and psychosocial risks in the workplace.
She noted that while Uganda has made significant progress in strengthening occupational safety and health (OSH) systems through improved regulations, increased inspections, and expanded awareness campaigns, more needs to be done to safeguard workers’ psychological wellbeing.
According to the minister, failure to address mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, and depression could undermine productivity, business performance, and overall national development.
“The modern workplace is evolving rapidly, bringing new pressures including heavy workloads, job insecurity, long working hours, and workplace harassment,” she said, warning that these factors, if left unmanaged, can negatively impact both employees and organizations.
Anyakun emphasized that psychosocial resilience should not only focus on individual coping mechanisms but also on creating supportive and inclusive work environments where employees feel valued and protected.
She called on employers to integrate mental health considerations into workplace safety policies, promote a culture of openness and respect, provide access to counselling services, and ensure reasonable workloads that support work-life balance.
Workers were also urged to prioritize their mental health, seek help when needed, and actively participate in workplace wellness programmes.
The minister further appealed to workers’ unions, employers’ organisations, and development partners to strengthen collaboration in promoting awareness, research, and interventions aimed at addressing psychosocial risks at work.
Government, she said, remains committed to enforcing occupational safety and health standards while strengthening policies that protect both the physical and mental wellbeing of workers.
She also acknowledged support from Enabel Uganda in organising this year’s activities.
As part of the commemorations, a series of events have been lined up, including a national OSH symposium at Nakawa Innovation Hub, a sanitation drive in Njeru Nile Market, an OSH run, and the main national event at St. Noah Mawagali Secondary School in Mbiko on April 28.
Anyakun urged Ugandans to participate in the activities and recommit to building safer, healthier, and more resilient workplaces. She also paid tribute to workers who have suffered work-related injuries or illnesses.
