On 19th February 2026, the Government launched the 2025 State of Uganda Population Report under the theme “Mental Health: A Silent Emergency.” The report was launched at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala by the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng. The launch was attended by Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Planning), Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, the Chairperson of the National Planning Authority, and Ms. Kristine Blokhus, the UNFPA Representative, among other distinguished guests.
The State of Uganda Population Report is an annual statutory publication by the National Planning Authority that provides evidence on population trends and their implications for development. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng emphasized that mental health is a critical national development concern, affecting productivity, education, household stability, and economic growth. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing investment in mental health services, stressing that “the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of intervention.”
Hon. Amos Lugoloobi underscored the importance of mental health to Uganda’s economic transformation and human capital development, noting that achieving the Tenfold Growth Strategy targets will depend on a mentally healthy, resilient, and productive population. He added that the government is addressing mental well-being not only through strengthened health services, but also through inclusive socio-economic programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Universal Education, and the Presidential Skilling Programme, which are designed to improve livelihoods and reduce social and economic stress.
The Chairperson of the National Planning Authority, Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, called for a deliberate shift in national priorities, urging the government to prioritise mental health financing. The Executive Director of the National Planning Authority, Dr. Joseph Muvawala, advocated for a transition from a specialist, facility-centred model to an integrated, community-based, and system-wide approach, emphasizing the need to embed mental health into primary health care. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Butabika Mental Hospital, Dr. Juliet Nakku, highlighted the growing demand for services and called for increased investment and expansion of care beyond referral institutions.
According to the report, mental health conditions in Uganda are rising rapidly, with reported cases increasing by over 71% between 2021 and 2024. The report indicates that nearly one in four Ugandans is affected, yet fewer than one in ten people in need of mental health services receive appropriate care. The report further highlights the economic burden of poor mental health, noting that Uganda lost an estimated UGX 834 billion in 2021 due to direct health costs and productivity losses. If no decisive action is taken, these losses are projected to increase to approximately US$4.5 billion annually by 2040.