First Lady Janet Museveni Raises Alarm Over Growing Mental Health Crisis Among Ugandan Youth
August 1, 2025 – Kampala
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in mental health challenges affecting Uganda’s youth. Speaking on the matter, Hon. Museveni described the growing prevalence of mental health issues among young people as a significant societal challenge that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders.
While addressing a recent gathering of education and health professionals, the First Lady highlighted that mental health is increasingly becoming a silent epidemic, particularly among students and young adults. She noted that issues such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are contributing to a decline in academic performance, social wellbeing, and productivity among the youth.
“This trend is deeply worrying,” Hon. Museveni stated. “We cannot afford to overlook the mental wellness of our children. It is a matter that threatens the future of our nation if not addressed collectively and decisively.”
She called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, and government agencies to work together in creating supportive environments for young people, emphasizing the need for increased mental health education, early detection, and counseling services in schools and communities.
Her remarks come amid growing calls from civil society and mental health experts for Uganda to invest more in mental health infrastructure and awareness campaigns. The Ministry of Health has also acknowledged a spike in reported mental health cases, attributing some of the causes to social pressures, unemployment, and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The First Lady’s appeal adds a powerful voice to the ongoing national conversation on youth mental health, urging the country not only to break the stigma but to act with compassion and urgency.
