The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, has pledged to push for increased government funding for mental health services, saying Parliament will work to ensure the issue receives greater attention during budget discussions as Uganda grapples with rising mental health challenges.
Closing a two-day Mental Health Awareness Camp at Parliament, Oboth-Oboth said mental illness should be treated with the same urgency as diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, arguing that stigma remains one of the biggest barriers preventing people from seeking treatment.
He said Parliament would not allow the awareness campaign to end as a symbolic event but would use the discussions to influence legislation, oversight and government spending on mental health programmes.
“We have gone beyond raising awareness. We have listened to evidence, lived experiences and expert opinions, and we now have a responsibility to translate those discussions into action,” Oboth-Oboth said.
The Speaker urged Ugandans to openly discuss mental health, saying every family is vulnerable to mental illness regardless of social or economic status.
“If you don’t know someone affected today, be prepared because mental illness can reach any family. It is a fact of life, and the sooner we prioritise it, the better,” he said.
His commitment comes amid growing concern from legislators that Uganda’s mental health services remain underfunded despite increasing demand.
During the forum, Kasilo County MP Peter Paul Emaju revealed that although government allocated Shs5.23 trillion to the health sector in the 2026/27 financial year, mental health does not have a standalone budget line. Instead, funding is absorbed under the broader Non-Communicable Diseases Programme.
Emaju argued that the arrangement makes it difficult for Parliament to determine how much money is actually spent on mental health services and whether the funds reach hospitals and communities.
“The absence of a disaggregated figure for mental health inside a multi-trillion-shilling allocation is itself the accountability gap this House must close,” he said.
He urged Parliament to strengthen oversight by tracking whether mental health allocations reach health facilities, whether specialised services are adequately staffed and whether investments translate into improved care for patients.
Emaju also called for greater collaboration between government and the private sector, noting that some companies have introduced workplace counselling programmes, employee wellness initiatives and mental health insurance products.
However, he stressed that private sector involvement should complement rather than replace government responsibility.
“The State remains the primary duty bearer in ensuring equitable access to mental health services,” he said.
Meanwhile, Patrick Kityo, a member of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health, called for stronger legal protections for people living with mental health conditions, saying stigma and discrimination continue to deny many Ugandans equal access to healthcare, education, employment and justice.
Kityo urged Parliament to strengthen laws protecting people with mental health conditions while increasing investment in services across the country.
He said although Uganda’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law and access to healthcare, many people living with mental health conditions continue to face exclusion because of widespread misconceptions.
“We must strengthen legal protections, improve enforcement mechanisms and ensure that mental health services are adequately financed and accessible across the country,” Kityo said.
He also called for stronger coordination between Parliament, the Judiciary, the Executive, local governments, civil society organisations and development partners to improve mental health services and eliminate stigma.
The legislators agreed that mental health should be viewed not only as a healthcare issue but also as a development priority, arguing that untreated mental illness affects education, workplace productivity, household stability and economic growth.
With Parliament now signalling stronger political backing for the sector, attention is expected to shift to the forthcoming budget process, where legislators hope to secure dedicated funding and stronger accountability mechanisms for mental health services.
