The former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga, has urged the Government to mainstream mental health issues in all sectors and its activities to reduce the growing number of mental health cases in the country.

Mpuuga, who is also a parliamentary commissioner and MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka City, made the call on Tuesday (May 21) while officiating at the opening of the mental health awareness camp at Parliament in Kampala.

“I underscored the need for government to mainstream mental health issues in all sectors and government activities, such an approach will help to reduce the growing number of mental health cases in the country,” he said in a statement he shared on X, formerly Twitter, after the function.

The latest report from the Uganda Counselling Association and the Ministry of health said 14 million Ugandans were mentally sick. This was attributed to the rising cost of living, pressures of modern life and substance abuse, many Ugandans are suffering silently with various mental illnesses.

Whereas these were recorded in 2019, experts say the figures could have since doubled given the restrictions that were brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stigma, poverty and drug abuse have on many occasions been mentioned as the leading contributors to Uganda’s mental health challenges.