Uganda lacks a secure forensic psychiatry ward, a gap that experts say endangers patients and complicates criminal justice, according to Juliet Nakku, Executive Director of Butabika National Referral Hospital.
Dr Nakku emphasized the urgent need to recruit forensic psychiatrists to handle complex cases involving mental illness.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Nakku cited the case of a man accused of killing four toddlers at a Ggaba day care centre, underscoring the importance of assessing suspects’ mental state and advising courts on criminal responsibility.
“We don't have a secure forensic psychiatry ward,” she said, stressing the need for specialized facilities to safely treat high-risk patients.
Experts agree that forensic psychiatrists are critical in such cases, preventing unsafe detention in prisons or general hospital wards.
Nakku’s disclosure highlights broader challenges in Uganda’s mental health infrastructure, including severe staffing shortages and overcrowding at Butabika Hospital.
Currently, the hospital has only 14 psychiatrists serving a population of 1,000, far below recommended ratios, raising concerns about the capacity to provide adequate care for both ordinary and high-risk psychiatric patients.