Health tutors at the Butabika School of Psychiatric Nursing have raised concerns over the limited employment opportunities for mental health professionals, warning that the shortage is exacerbating Uganda’s growing burden of mental illness.
Speaking at the school’s graduation ceremony for psychiatric nurses, Principal Harriet Kwagala noted that while student enrollment in psychiatric training remains low, many graduates struggle to find jobs due to the scarcity of positions in health facilities.
“The shortage of jobs discourages potential students from pursuing mental health courses, even as the demand for services continues to rise,” Kwagala said.
Tutors highlighted that mental health cases are steadily increasing, with an estimated two to three out of every ten people affected by mental health conditions. They emphasized that many cases go undetected, as symptoms are often overlooked and patients fail to seek help early, delaying access to care.
Kwagala also pointed out that Butabika remains the only institution in Uganda offering psychiatric nursing training, yet it faces challenges such as inadequate training equipment, which affects the quality of education and the preparedness of graduates.
During the ceremony, State Minister for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo, encouraged mental health practitioners to focus on restoring hope among patients rather than dwelling on sector challenges. He also called for increased government support to help psychiatric professionals upgrade their qualifications from diploma to degree level, a move he said would enhance service delivery and professionalism in the field.
A total of 423 students graduated with diplomas and certificates in mental health care, comprising 169 males and 254 females.