Following several incidents of suicide in Ugandan schools, a UK-based psychiatrist is calling for urgent mental health reforms to address the crisis.
Dr Justine Nakimuli Kigozi Odong, a psychiatry consultant with over two decades of experience, made the remarks after a mock African Union (AU) summit debate in Uganda. The event, held at St Joseph Naggalama Secondary School in Mukono district, brought together students from ten schools to discuss the increasing cases of suicide and mental health struggles among learners across the continent.
The debate comes amid rising concerns over student suicides in Uganda. Several recent cases have highlighted the alarming scale of the crisis. In February, Alvin Ssekandi, a 19-year-old senior six student, drowned himself after reportedly performing poorly in the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams.
Similarly, 18-year-old Alvin Atwine, a senior four student at Ntare School, died after ingesting rat poison, allegedly in protest against being forced to bathe. Last month, Maria Ndagire, a senior three student at Mpoma School in Mukono district, set herself on fire after her parents refused to transfer her to a school of her choice.
Another student, Elshama Ssesaazi from Seeta High School, was found hanged in a dormitory, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Dr Nakimuli warned that the rise in such cases reflects a broader global crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously identified mental illness as the next pandemic following COVID-19. She argued that today’s youth are growing up in a unique digital era, with exposure to both the benefits and risks of electronic devices.
“Children today have little resilience and lack problem-solving skills,” she noted.
“In the past, they wrote letters to their parents, and it took days to reach them. Now, students expect immediate responses to their needs. When their expectations are unmet, some resort to drastic measures.”
The psychiatrist also pointed to factors such as poor parenting styles, genetic predispositions, and bullying as contributors to mental health struggles. She called for urgent intervention, particularly in the education sector. Vinasio Amone, deputy headmaster of St Joseph’s Naggalama, attributed rising school suicides to the increasing influence of Western-style children’s rights, which he argued were being misunderstood by Ugandan students.
He also cited the influence of social media platforms like TikTok, saying they were introducing problematic narratives. Amone called on the government to strengthen school counselling services by allocating funds to this initiative, particularly in government schools, where he noted that mental health issues were more pronounced.
Students also shared their insights into mental health challenges. Emmanuella Amongin from St Mary’s College Lugazi highlighted socio-economic challenges, including high poverty levels and the impact of HIV/Aids.
She suggested scholarships as a way to improve access to education and mental health support. Michella Veronica Nakato from Seeta High School Green Campus acknowledged the increasing prevalence of mental health struggles among students, citing academic and social pressures as key triggers.
She called for research into school-based interventions to identify and support struggling students before they reach a crisis point.