Mega & Agency
Psychiatrists from across the country gathered in Kampala on Wednesday to celebrate a milestone that has taken Uganda decades to achieve; the country now has 100 psychiatrists actively in service.
Dr Emmanuel Kiiza Mwesiga, President of the Uganda Association of Psychiatrists, says Uganda operated for years with barely 50 psychiatrists.
Reaching 100 now puts the country among the few in Africa with such a number of specialists, even as the entire continent has only about 2,500 psychiatrists.
The World Health Organisation recommends a ratio of one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people.
With Uganda’s population estimated at 46 million, the country currently has roughly one psychiatrist for every 460,000 people.
Only seven of the 17 regional referral hospitals have a psychiatrist, despite the high burden of mental illness and the need for specialised care.
The need is underscored by findings from the 2024 National Census, which showed that 12 per cent of Ugandans were living with some form of mental illness.
