Health
Stakeholders call for renaming of Butabika Hospital
“We need to get another name for this hospital to de-stigmatise people with mental health challenges,” Kalyegira said.
Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital. (File photo)
By: Farooq Kasule, Journalist @New Vision
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Stakeholders have called for the renaming of the Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, arguing that the current name fuels stigma.
This was during the Law Development Centre (LDC) annual peer review summit 2026 at LDC in Kampala on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The summit focused on mental health issues in the country and how the law can be used as a tool to prioritise mental health in all sectors.
Dr Pamela Tibihikkira-Kalyegira, the LDC director, said there is an urgent need to rename the hospital to de-stigmatise people with mental health challenges.
“We need to get another name for this hospital to de-stigmatise people with mental health challenges,” Kalyegira said.
The stakeholders argued that the word “Butabika” has since stopped being a place but an insult, which spreads stigma.
They argued that because of the name 'Butabika', many people with mental challenges have since shunned the hospital. They, therefore, proposed a neutral name like 'National Mental Hospital'.
However, Dr Juliet Nakku, the executive director of Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, said the name is merely a word. But she welcomed the national debate on the matter.
“What is a name other than a mere word? If you go to Kenya, they have Mathari Mental Hospital. I don’t know but it is a discussion we can have,” Nakku said.
In regard to the state of mental health in the country, Dr Nakku said mental health is no longer a peripheral issue that should be confined to the ministry of health.
The stakeholders argued that the word “Butabika” has since stopped being a place but an insult, which spreads stigma.
They argued that because of the name 'Butabika', many people with mental challenges have since shunned the hospital. They, therefore, proposed a neutral name like 'National Mental Hospital'.
However, Dr Juliet Nakku, the executive director of Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, said the name is merely a word. But she welcomed the national debate on the matter.
“What is a name other than a mere word? If you go to Kenya, they have Mathari Mental Hospital. I don’t know but it is a discussion we can have,” Nakku said.
In regard to the state of mental health in the country, Dr Nakku said mental health is no longer a peripheral issue that should be confined to the ministry of health.
“Mental health affects every sector of life and it requires a whole government approach to tackle it. The fact that mental health is in the law books is not enough,” Nakku said.
Nakku revealed that the bulk of patients at the hospital are young people between 18 and 35 years, noting that the trend is increasing, thereby requiring enactment of the laws that not only protect but also promote the plight of patients.
Haji Saidi Nsamba, the coordinator of mental health and psychosocial support at the ministry of education and sports, revealed that between 2022 and October 2025, they recorded 45 cases of learner suicide.
“We have since issued a circular requiring all schools to create a weekly mental health hour, functional guidance and counseling in the school system. These are some of the interventions that we are doing to avert the situation,” Nsamba said.
Kenneth Seguya, the manager legal and compliance at the Uganda Communications Commission, appealed to the public to reduce on the time they spend on social media, saying it is also fueling mental health challenges.
Nakku revealed that the bulk of patients at the hospital are young people between 18 and 35 years, noting that the trend is increasing, thereby requiring enactment of the laws that not only protect but also promote the plight of patients.
Haji Saidi Nsamba, the coordinator of mental health and psychosocial support at the ministry of education and sports, revealed that between 2022 and October 2025, they recorded 45 cases of learner suicide.
“We have since issued a circular requiring all schools to create a weekly mental health hour, functional guidance and counseling in the school system. These are some of the interventions that we are doing to avert the situation,” Nsamba said.
Kenneth Seguya, the manager legal and compliance at the Uganda Communications Commission, appealed to the public to reduce on the time they spend on social media, saying it is also fueling mental health challenges.