By Mmeeme Leticia
The media is often referred to as the “fourth pillar of the state.” It is a foundational part of any community, keeping people informed about current events as well as the changes shaping the world.
We learn more about the world and about one another thanks to the work journalists do. Journalism ensures that everyone has access to crucial, timely, and factual information.
This work, however, often comes at a mental cost for journalists. Kassim Kayira, one of Uganda’s legendary journalists, recalls one of the most haunting moments of his journalism career while reporting on the post-genocide war in Rwanda.
He had to interview more than fifty women who had been brutally raped. “Being a man and interviewing these women didn’t leave me the same,” he says. “Even in my old age, I still get flashbacks of what they went through. It was terrifying.
Some women described how they were cut open while heavily pregnant just so their attackers could see what a Tutsi child looked like. Others were tied to beds and repeatedly raped by different men.”
Kassim, who has reported for more three decades, witnessed situations so horrifying that he had stopped eating meat because of the repeated exposure to dead bodies.
Another experience he recalls is seeing a fellow male journalist being gang-raped in public as a way to humiliate him.
“They sodomised him in front of me, and I still get flashbacks of that day,” he says.
Although Kassim has now left active reporting, the memories still linger. Today, as a farmer and a journalism safety trainer, he emphasises that mental health should be a priority in newsrooms. “A journalist can only be good if they are mentally well.”
The World Health Organisation defines mental health as a state of well-being that enables people to cope with life’s stresses, recognise their abilities, learn and work effectively, and contribute to their communities.
For journalists, this definition is particularly relevant. The demands of reporting constantly test their mental and emotional strength, making support essential.
Janet Kantalama Katana, a Ugandan psychologist and the Executive Director of Safe Places Uganda, explains that journalists face a range of mental health challenges, including generalised anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders.
She notes that other pressures such as burnout, cyberbullying, gender-based violence, and stigma around mental health compound the risks.
“If left unchecked, these challenges can impair professional, social, psychological, emotional, and behavioural functionality, reducing work performance and creating high financial burdens both individually and institutionally,” she says.
Frank Walusimbi, another legendary journalist, shares his own painful memories from covering one of Uganda’s most violent periods, the Kayunga riots of December 2009.
Political tensions after the government blocked the Kabaka of Buganda from visiting the Kayunga district sparked protests that quickly turned deadly.
“There was so much fear, so much death in the city. I saw people being killed,” Walusimbi recalls.
One moment still haunts him. “I remember a boy named Francis Kimboowa, just 14 years old. He went to help his mother at the shop.
When the shooting began, he ran to collect her goods and was shot in the head. He died on the spot. I’ll never forget that image.”
Like Kassim and Frank, many journalists face violence, harassment, and political pressure in their work. The recent Kawempe by-election saw reporters being harassed, arrested, and having their equipment confiscated, and the 2026 General Election is expected to intensify these pressures.
These experiences show the emotional toll of the profession. Even outside the field, deadlines and newsroom demands leave journalists exhausted. Many never have space to process the trauma they witness, and the images stay with them for years.
Ukweli Africa, a Non-Government Organisation advocating for journalist’s safety and mental health recently hosted an X Space discussion to understand how journalists manage their mental health.
Many described the difficulty of returning to work immediately after dangerous assignments. Fatigue, stress, and the weight of what they have witnessed quietly build over time, often without anyone realizing it.
Support from colleagues and the public is vital. Without space to rest or talk about their experiences, the burden grows heavier, affecting both their well-being and their ability to report effectively.
Janet Kantalama Katana emphasises the importance of practical support systems in newsrooms. She suggests normalising seeking care for mental health challenges, creating peer support groups, empowering workplace mental health champions, establishing enabling workplace policies, and partnering with mental health service providers.
Providing medical insurance that covers psychological care, creating safe spaces at work, encouraging physical exercise, having staff debriefs or rejuvenation activities, and fostering self-care and leave-taking are all essential measures she recommends.
Research shows that journalists in East Africa face elevated risks of mental health challenges. Routine exposure to violence, political pressure, and trauma, combined with limited support, leaves many feelings isolated.
A survey by the African Centre for Media Excellence found that 40% of Ugandan journalists reported having suffered physical attacks while on duty. For many who have been harassed or brutalized before, the wounds go beyond the body.
They carry the emotional weight of what they’ve seen and lived through, yet still show up to report the next story. These experiences are part of the reason why mental health must be part of every conversation about journalism today.
Mental health exists on a continuum, shaped by individual, family, community, and structural factors. While most people are resilient, those exposed to ongoing stress or trauma are at higher risk of developing mental health conditions.
For journalists, the stakes are high. Their work ensures society stays informed, but it comes with deep personal costs. Respecting and supporting journalists means acknowledging these costs.
Providing safe spaces, access to mental health care, and fair working conditions is essential. A strong, informed society depends on the mental well-being of the people who report its stories.
At Ukweli Africa, the mental health and safety of journalists are key priorities. We provide spaces for discussion, support, and practical guidance so reporters can cope with the challenges of their work. By doing this, we hope journalists can continue to report safely and effectively, knowing their well-being matters.
The writer is a Communication Associate at Ukweli Africa.
