In Summary: Kamuli Municipality MP Hon Mastula Namatovu has called for stronger community efforts to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma and encourage people experiencing emotional distress to seek help, warning that silence and social misconceptions can worsen the challenges faced by affected individuals.
Kamuli, Uganda — Kamuli Municipality MP Mastula Namatovu has called for collective efforts to promote mental health awareness in homes, communities, workplaces and public spaces, saying more people need to speak openly about emotional distress and seek professional support.
Namatovu made the call while serving as chief runner at the Busoga Mental Health Run organised by the Kamuli Mental Health Association, Kamuli Municipality and Kamuli District Health Department on Sunday.
She said mental health challenges were increasingly affecting people across different sections of society, including civil servants, parents and young people, but were often misunderstood or dismissed as witchcraft or the effects of chronic illnesses.
The MP called for greater public awareness, counselling services, community outreach programmes and open conversations to help prevent severe mental health outcomes, including suicide.
“We must advocate, prevent and seek help because help is available, free and seeking help is not weakness but strength we need to break stigma and make mental health as part of primary health care not only at Butabika,” Namatovu said.
She urged communities to recognise mental health as an issue requiring collective attention rather than leaving affected individuals to struggle in isolation.
Busoga mental health officials Julius Otai of Kamuli General Hospital and Eva Asamo of Iganga Hospital said their initiative was intended to increase awareness through community outreaches, health camps and public engagement.
They said the campaign was also aimed at encouraging people experiencing mental health difficulties to seek assistance rather than suffer in silence.
“For long mental health has been laughed and whispered yet now about 12% live with a form of mental illness people overwhelmed by stress, mothers battling postpartum depression, men turning to alcohol to cope so we must move from silence to support,” Asamo said.
Otai encouraged people to seek help early when they experience persistent sadness, anxiety or difficulties communicating their feelings.
He also urged the public to listen attentively when someone opens up about their struggles, encourage rest and physical activity, maintain social connections and regularly check on friends who may appear strong but could be facing difficulties.
Charles Mudumba, Executive Director of HOLD Uganda, cautioned against allowing pride, ego and the pressure to impress others to undermine personal wellbeing.
He encouraged people to live within their means, avoid unnecessary pressure and recognise when they need support from others. “Ask for help, talk to a friend, when in pain cry out and above all pray to your God,” Mudumba said.
The Busoga Mental Health Run brought together health officials, civil society organisations, community members and schoolchildren in an effort to promote conversations about mental wellbeing and encourage people to seek available support.
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