Mental health matters in Africa. Here’s why—from delegates at the recently concluded #MentalHealth Intercountry Meeting for the East and Southern African subregion. Learn more: afro.who.int/countries/south…

I worked with @SueNsibirwa btn 2011-2019 as her supervisor when she headed our marketing function. Not once was she ever apprehended as a suspect in or charged with a criminal offense. In fact, she left two years before me with her record of high integrity & stellar performance. I am certain that her current employer would have done a due diligence before entrusting her with her present role. If what is being said about her now were true it would have come out long ago from more credible sources.

Join us this Friday (5th) at 1pm for an informative conversation about what each of us can do about mental illness. Everyone is invited to attend. Register in advance *bit.ly/44URyZv* CPD Points will be awarded to for medical professionals. See you there.

Let us be honest: the issue is not that medical interns are too many. It is not that Uganda has no money. It is that medical interns are not being treated as a priority. Consider the choices being made: • Parliament keeps growing. Parliament’s budget reportedly doubled to about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭. 𝟮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻. The money going to 529 MPs rose from about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟰𝟬𝟬𝗯 in 2020/21 to 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟳𝟰𝟰.𝟰𝗯 in 2026/27, an increase of about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟰𝟰.𝟰𝗯. What direct return does this give the common Ugandan in a crowded hospital? • Two offices alone tell the story. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker offices had about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟳.𝟭𝗯 combined in 2020/21. In 2026/27, they stand at about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟱𝟬.𝟮𝗯 , an increase of about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟰𝟯.𝟭𝗯 for only two offices. That increase alone can pay 𝟯𝟬𝟬𝟬 interns 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, with money left. • Questionable spending continues. In 2025/26, selected Speaker’s office lines reportedly included 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮.𝟰𝗯 for foreign travel, 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟵𝟲𝟲𝗺 for fuel, 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟰.𝟴𝗯 for incapacity, death benefits and funeral expenses, and 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟱.𝟮𝗯 for donations. Total: about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭𝟰.𝟮𝗯. What lasting public health return does this produce compared with doctors on wards? • RDC structures are being funded. Uganda reportedly has 146 RDCs, 170 Deputy RDCs and 432 Assistant RDCs, total 748 officials. Their proposed salary enhancement requires an extra 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮𝟵.𝟬𝟳𝟵𝗯 every year. Add the reported 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟬𝗯 for LC I to LC V political leader facilitation, and that is about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟱𝟵𝗯. In what way does this benefit the common Ugandan? • Donations are funded. State House donations reportedly consumed 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟳𝟱𝟭𝗯 over seven financial years. In 2023/24 alone, donations were budgeted at 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭𝟴.𝟭𝗯, but actual spending reached 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟴𝟬.𝟭𝟴𝗯. If tens and hundreds of billions can be found for donations, how does 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮𝟰𝗯 to 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟲𝗯 for over 2,000 medical interns become impossible? • Health was not protected with the same urgency. The Ministry of Health vote fell from about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭. 𝟲𝟵𝟯 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in FY2023/24 to about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭. 𝟯𝟰𝟰 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in FY2024/25, a reduction of about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟰𝟵𝗯. Even the 2025/26 estimate of 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭.𝟱𝟲𝟰 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 remains below the 2023/24 level. Yet health is the sector that directly touches mothers in labour, accident victims, children with malaria, emergency patients and families in public hospitals. Now compare: • 2,000 interns × Shs1m × 12 months = 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮𝟰𝗯 per year • 2,500 interns × Shs1m × 12 months = 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟬𝗯 per year • 3,000 interns × Shs1m × 12 months = 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟲𝗯 per year Even using the Ministry of Health’s own gross figure of Shs15.6m per intern per year, the reported 2,706 eligible interns would require about Shs42.2b. That is still small compared with what is being found for political comfort and administrative expansion. That money is not a handout. ✨ It avails doctors on wards. ✨ It keeps emergency units covered. ✨ It supports maternity care. ✨ It fills staffing gaps in regional referrals. ✨ It protects patients. So let us stop pretending. This is not a numbers problem. This is not a money problem. It is a priority problem. Medical interns are doctors under apprenticeship, not free labour! #InternsNotSlaves

Uganda National Mental Heath Conference…MoH PS makes remarks…and Ms Grace Obalim, Chair of the National MHPSS Working Group

Poster presentation by TPO Uganda

Day 2: Uganda Mental Health Conference. Dr Nalugya presents on collaborative care among psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors and social workers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health services

Day 2: Uganda Mental Health Conference. Dr Kalani, MOH talks about mental health integration into PHC

Opening of the Uganda National Mental Health Conference

Mental health isn't just a health issue. The @WHO's first-ever Guidance proves it - tailored action for each of 10 sectors, one shared roadmap, every reason to act.

Join @MakPsychiatry as they explore a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to managing a complex case of Bipolar Disorder and Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus.

Today, we publish a new cross-party parliamentary inquiry report examining the UK’s reliance on internationally trained health workers and the case for fairer, more sustainable co-investment in source countries. Read the report on our website 👇 globalhealth.inparliament.uk…

A global shift in #MentalHealth is happening - powered by @WHO #QualityRights tools that drive rights-based, person-centred, evidence-based care. Real change needs action. Use them. Share them. Advocate for them. Transform services and systems. ▶️ Watch the video

Today marks the official 30th call for 2026-2027 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism applications! Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. EST April 3, 2026. Apply at mentalhealthjournalism.org/b…

A large new meta-analysis of more than 800,000 participants shows that high adherence to three well-established healthy eating patterns is linked to a lower risk of type 2 #diabetes, regardless of one's ethnicity. The study investigated three healthy dietary patterns: the Mediterranean Diet, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). All three #diet patterns have been recommended for general health and their potential to reduce chronic disease risk. medicalxpress.com/news/2025-…

Hello, no internet since yesterday…

SafeBodaUG cont. I refused to go with the Perry, he then said it seems I don’t know how to use App, I should give my phone to someone else 3)Today I called the phone, got an automated message in Luganda then phone cut off. ICC and whoever is responsible should look into it.

There seems to be a huge problem with SafeBodaUG… 1)Someone booked it at night, they were taken to a dark location, beaten up and property stolen. 2)I tried to book SafeCar yesterday and someone kept calling me and yet the App was not showing any car. 1/2

A huge huge shout out to DFCU that has a more transparent approach to Forex transactions…thank you so much!!! ABSA on the other hand is consistently non transparent, including “kujerega” of the client. Shame!

0758 552 700…this number of a Mufere who insults…Uganda Olemwa