Youth take mental health services closer to residents in Katogo

25 October 2026, 8:23 am

By Byamukama Alozious

Youth have called for more community-based services and referrals to help residents access treatment, as a medical camp in Katogo, a low-income settlement in Nakawa Division, Kampala, highlighted the need for greater awareness of mental health challenges among children and young people.

The camp, held on Sartuday , brought together health workers and community members to access services including mental health support, sexual and reproductive health services, laboratory testing, malaria screening and nutrition services.

Nabukela Rehema, a psychiatrist at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, said many youth living in communities around the hospital remain unaware that mental health services are available to both inpatients and outpatients.

“Katogo is not far from Butabika Hospital, but people do not know that we have services for both inpatients and outpatients,” Rehema said, calling for health services and referrals to be taken closer to communities.

She said the area has many young people who may be struggling with mental health challenges linked to several social and economic factors, including drug use, excessive or unregulated use of technology and limited parental attention.

Rehema also expressed concern about the upbringing of children, arguing that busy work schedules and limited time spent with parents can leave children struggling with emotional and psychological problems without the support they need.

She called for stronger implementation of early childhood development policies and greater parental involvement in children’s lives. She suggested that children should not be sent to boarding schools before Primary Four, arguing that keeping them at home longer could give parents more time to understand their needs and support their development.

“Parents are too busy with their work and their own responsibilities, and children are suffering silently,” she said.

Rehema illustrated the situation by describing children who are transported to and from school by boda boda riders while their parents are away at work, leaving neighbours to help supervise them in the parents’ absence.

She warned that children who lack consistent care and emotional support may face difficulties that affect their mental well-being and development.

Katogo, which is surrounded by communities including Kasokoso, Mbuya and Mutungo-Bina, faces several social and economic challenges. Residents’ exposure to alcohol misuse, commercial sex and street vending may compound vulnerabilities, although these factors do not automatically lead to mental illness.

Amanda Joan, from the UNIVADA Youth Alliance, which organised the medical camp, said the organisation selected Katogo because of the community’s needs and the importance of bringing health services closer to underserved residents.

She said October’s mental health awareness activities provided an opportunity to engage youth and other community people on mental health and encourage people to seek help when they experience psychological distress.

The organisers said the camp aimed to improve access to essential health services while creating awareness about issues affecting the community, particularly young people.

Health workers say community outreach, early identification of mental health problems, appropriate referrals and stronger family support are important in ensuring that people experiencing mental health difficulties receive timely care.

According to the State of Uganda Population Report, facility-reported mental health cases in the country surged by more than 71% between 2021 and 2024. Because young people make up the vast majority of the population, they bear the heaviest burden of this spike. It is now estimated that nearly a quarter between 22% and 24% of Ugandan children and adolescents are living with a mental health condition, primarily depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.

Read our article on mental health cris in schools