Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health

29/08/2026

On 27 August 2026, our Coordinator, Ms Omona Mercy Gracy, joined Dr Nick Bass, Director of Global Health at East London NHS Foundation Trust, and a distinguished team of global health partners for a high level engagement held at Butabika National Referral Hospital.

The meeting brought together Dr Sheba Gitta, Country Director of the Global Health Partnership, Ms Ammy Potter, Health Adviser for Global Health Initiatives at the British High Commission, representatives from Kenya and Lesotho, and the team from Butabika National Referral Hospital led by Dr Juliet Nakku. The engagement also included Dr Yvonne E. M. Karamagi, Executive Director of Mildmay Hospital, and Mr Eddy, Executive Director of Peer Nation.

The discussions focused on strengthening the UK Global Health Partnership, with a particular emphasis on mental health. The engagement explored opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, strengthening mental health systems and advancing practical interventions that can improve mental health outcomes in Uganda and across the region.

The meeting underscored the importance of meaningful partnerships between health institutions, governments, development partners and communities in ensuring that mental health is placed at the centre of global health and health systems strengthening.

As the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health, we remain committed to fostering partnerships that translate dialogue into action and contribute to a stronger, more responsive and people centred mental health system.

22/08/2026

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health convened the 4th Mental Health Awareness Camp at the Parliament of Uganda from 8th–9th July 2026, under the theme “Advancing Mental Health Through Policy Action.”

The two-day camp provided a platform for Honourable Members of Parliament, government institutions, mental health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners, advocates, the media, and other stakeholders to engage on critical mental health issues and explore practical policy actions to strengthen mental health services and support across Uganda.

The camp highlighted the important role of Parliament and other stakeholders in shaping policies, strengthening systems, mobilising resources, and ensuring that mental health remains a national development priority.

As the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health, we remain committed to promoting dialogue, advocacy, policy action, and stronger collaboration towards a Uganda where everyone can access quality mental health care and support.

Advancing mental health through policy action — the conversation and the work continue.

20/08/2026

A New Partnership for Healing, Dignity and Opportunity

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health (UPFMH) is honoured to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Care Leavers Association Uganda (CLAU), formalising a partnership built around a shared commitment to strengthening the wellbeing, resilience, inclusion and opportunities of care leavers in Uganda.

This partnership recognises an important reality: leaving institutional care should not mean leaving support behind.

Together, UPFMH and CLAU will work towards creating stronger pathways for mental health support, psychosocial wellbeing, advocacy, awareness, capacity building and meaningful community engagement for care leavers.

We believe that sustainable impact happens when institutions, communities and lived-experience leaders work together. CLAU brings invaluable lived experience, community knowledge and a powerful voice for care leavers. UPFMH brings a platform for mental health advocacy, policy engagement and institutional collaboration.

Through this partnership, we look forward to contributing to:

• Greater awareness of the mental health and psychosocial needs of care leavers
• Stronger referral and support pathways
• Increased advocacy for policies and systems that promote wellbeing and inclusion
• Capacity building and empowerment opportunities
• Meaningful engagement of care leavers in conversations and decisions that affect their lives
• Evidence-informed interventions that can contribute to long-term systems change

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Care Leavers Association Uganda for the trust, openness and commitment that have made this partnership possible.

We are honoured to walk alongside CLAU, and we look forward to transforming the commitments made today into action, measurable outcomes and lasting impact.

The signing is a milestone. The work ahead is the mission.

17/08/2026

Speaker of Parliament and Patron of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health, Rt Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth has pledged to champion mental health advocacy more than ever during the 12th Parliament.

He made the commitment on 9th July 2026 while officiating at the Mental Health Awareness Camp held at Parliament, where he emphasized the importance of addressing mental health as a national development and public health priority.

He also urged Members of Parliament serving on the Forum to remain committed in advancing the mental health agenda noting that sustained advocacy by the forum would strengthen Parliament’s ability to prioritize mental health during the national budgeting process and ensure increased government investment in mental health services and programmes.

13/08/2026

Our Coordinator Mercy Gracy joined the Country Directors Mujune, Oloya of Strong Minds Uganda in a strategic engagement with the Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, ahead of the 2nd East Africa Mental Health Summit.

The engagement focused on streamlining preparations and strengthening coordination with the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, the line ministry for this important regional initiative.

We are delighted to join this effort and contribute to advancing mental health as a regional priority across East Africa.

Together, we can strengthen partnerships, policy action and collective commitment to mental health across the region.

12/08/2026

Strengthening the Media to Strengthen Uganda’s Mental Health Conversation 🧠🇺🇬

In collaboration with our valued implementing partner, , we conducted a Parliament Media Training on Responsible and Effective Mental Health Reporting.

The engagement brought together journalists and media practitioners covering Parliament for a timely and practical conversation on the power of the media to shape how Uganda understands mental health.

Through the training, participants explored accurate, ethical and responsible reporting, with particular attention to language, stigma, su***de reporting, dignity, privacy and the importance of providing audiences with information that promotes understanding and access to appropriate support.

We reflected on a simple but powerful truth: the media does not only report the mental health story; it helps shape the story.

A headline can reinforce stigma or challenge it. A story can spread fear or create understanding. A journalist can simply report what happened, or go further to ask what can be done differently.

This is why partnerships matter.

We deeply appreciate for its continued commitment, technical expertise and partnership in strengthening mental health advocacy and communication in Uganda. Their contribution to this engagement reflects the kind of meaningful collaboration needed to move mental health from the margins of public conversation to the centre of national action.

As UPFMH, we remain committed to working with journalists and media institutions to build a more informed, compassionate and evidence-based mental health conversation across Uganda.

Together, we can change the narrative.
Together, we can reduce stigma.
Together, we can make mental health a national priority.

09/08/2026

📢 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

1st African Regional Summit on Su***de Prevention

Africa needs evidence, ideas and solutions that can strengthen su***de prevention. This Summit provides an opportunity to share research, experiences, innovations and practical approaches that can inform action across the continent.

We invite you to submit an abstract and be part of this important conversation.

📅 19th–21st October 2026
📍 Parliament of Uganda, Kampala

Abstracts should:
• Not exceed 250 words
• Be written in English
• Be submitted in PDF format
• Include author names and affiliations

🗓️ Submission deadline: 25th August 2026
📧 abstracts@su***depreventionsummitafrica.org

Your evidence can inspire action. Your ideas can strengthen su***de prevention. Submit your abstract today.

05/08/2026

SAVE THE DATE | 1ST REGIONAL AFRICAN SU***DE PREVENTION SUMMIT 2026

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health (UPFMH), and the Africa Su***de Prevention Association (ASPA) is pleased to announce the 1st Regional African Su***de Prevention Summit.

Theme: From Silence to Action: Advancing Su***de Prevention Across Africa

The Summit will bring together parliamentarians, government leaders, policymakers, development partners, researchers, mental health professionals, persons with lived experience, youth leaders, academia, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to strengthen dialogue, promote evidence informed action, and advance coordinated approaches to su***de prevention.

The Summit will provide a platform for policy engagement, knowledge exchange, regional collaboration, and collective action towards strengthening mental health systems and protecting lives.

Date: 19th to 21st October 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Kampala, Uganda

Registration and partnership opportunities are available through the official Summit platform:
https://zurl.co/SyopW
contact@su***depreventionsummitafrica.org

31/07/2026

We were honoured to support the visit of Hon. Dr Beccy Cooper, MP, Chairperson of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health, and the UK Global Health Partnership (GHP) delegation led by CEO Ben Simms, together with Moses Wasswa Mulimira, Diaspora Advisor, and Dr Sheba Gitta, Uganda Country Director, to the Parliament of Uganda for a courtesy visit to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth.

The visit was successfully coordinated by our Coordinator, Omona Mercy Gracy whose leadership and commitment brought together key stakeholders for this high-level engagement.

The meeting brought together parliamentary and health leaders, including the Clerk to Parliament, Hon. Dr Charles Ayume, Minister of State for Health, the Chairperson of the Parliament Health Committee, Hon. Christopher Komakech, Vice Chairperson of the Forum, Hon. Dr Michael Bukenya Iga, Hon. Babungi Josephine, alongside representatives of the British High Commission, including H.E. Lisa Chesney, British High Commissioner to Uganda, Ms Tiffany Kirlew, British Deputy High Commissioner to Uganda, and other distinguished guests and partners.

The engagement reaffirmed the strong partnership between Uganda and the United Kingdom in advancing shared health priorities. The Rt. Hon. Speaker appreciated the continued collaboration, while Hon. Dr Beccy Cooper commended Uganda's achievements in the health sector and highlighted the importance of openness, partnership, and collective action in addressing global health challenges.

Mental health was among the key issues discussed, with emphasis on strengthening policy action, fostering collaboration, and improving mental health outcomes. Hon. Dr Beccy Cooper also pledged her continued support for Uganda in advancing shared health priorities, including mental health.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all our partners and distinguished guests whose participation made this engagement a success. Together, we remain committed to advancing mental health and strengthening partnerships that improve the lives of all Ugandans.

31/07/2026

Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health (UPFMH) has entered into a strategic partnership with Young & Free, a market intelligence and strategy company committed to advancing mental health advocacy through innovation, research, and sustainable solutions. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), will see Young & Free support the Forum in designing, planning, and implementing impactful mental health initiatives aligned with Uganda’s mental health agenda.

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health (UPFMH) has officially welcomed Young & Free, a market intelligence and strategy company with a strong