Watoto Church takes sports to Butabika to restore hope
Rwotlonyo said participating in a team could help patients rebuild confidence and rediscover a sense of purpose, while simple activities such as kicking a ball or sharing a laugh could encourage someone experiencing a difficult period in life.
Some of the players of Watoto and Butabika pose for a group photo with the health minister Chris Baryomunsi. (Photos by John Musenze)
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Watoto Church has funded a sports arena at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, introducing football and basketball facilities to support the rehabilitation of patients receiving treatment for mental health conditions.
The facility, comprising a modern 5-by-5 football pitch with a carpet and basketball court, is intended to complement medical treatment by giving patients opportunities to exercise, build friendships and regain confidence as they work towards recovery.
Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo, the senior pastor and ministry team leader of Watoto Church, said the initiative reflected the church’s commitment to supporting vulnerable people through practical acts of service beyond its regular worship activities.
“Gone are the days where a church is only known for what they do in the buildings. This is the day for church to come out of the buildings and be the church in the buildings,” Rwotlonyo said during the launch at Butabika on October 13.
He said the sports facilities represented more than places for exercise, offering patients opportunities to experience friendship, belonging and hope during their recovery.
“When we look at the basketball court and the soccer facility, it is easy to see a place where people may exercise, play and enjoy themselves. But we believe that this facility represents something even greater,” he said.
He emphasised that mental health conditions should not diminish a person’s dignity or humanity, saying patients deserved opportunities to rebuild their lives and dream again.
The project was funded through contributions from Watoto Church members, according to Rwotlonyo, who thanked the congregation for supporting the initiative.
Dr Juliet Nakku, the executive director of Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, said the sports arena would strengthen the hospital’s psychiatric rehabilitation programme by incorporating physical exercise into patient care.
“Exercise is an important part of rehabilitation and mental health promotion,” Nakku said, explaining that research showed physical activity could help reduce symptoms associated with conditions such as depression and anxiety.
She said some psychiatric patients were also at risk of developing non-communicable diseases because mental illness could limit physical activity, while some medicines could contribute to weight gain.
The facilities would therefore help promote patients’ physical well-being alongside their mental health, Nakku said.
Nakku credited Watoto Ministries with helping expand an initiative that began with activities such as dance classes into a larger rehabilitation programme incorporating sport.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi welcomed the partnership, saying exercise and physical activity were part of therapy and the wider healing process.
He thanked Watoto Ministries for supporting the hospital and urged management to ensure the facilities were used for their intended purpose.
Baryomunsi also acknowledged the hospital’s wider staffing and infrastructure challenges, saying the Ministry of Health would consider its requests during the budgeting process.
The sports arena was launched alongside Butabika’s strategic plan, service delivery standards and clients’ charter, which are intended to guide institutional planning, service delivery and accountability.
Prof Eugene Kinyanda, the hospital’s board chairperson, said Butabika had an official bed capacity of 550 but was handling between 1,100 and 1,300 inpatients, with some patients sleeping on the floor.
He called for increased government investment in staffing, infrastructure and rehabilitation services to meet the growing demand for mental health care. The hospital said rehabilitation was an important part of helping patients prepare to return to their families and communities when clinically ready.