Uganda faces shortage of trained counsellors amid rising mental health needs

Uganda is currently grappling with a severe shortage of trained counsellors, a crisis brought into sharp focus at the recently concluded Second National Counsellors' Summit held at Kyambogo University. The Uganda Counsellors Association (UCA) warned that this scarcity, especially in non-urban areas, is leaving a growing number of Ugandans without crucial mental health support, despite a significant surge in reported mental health conditions across the country. The summit, which wrapped up on June 25, 2026, underlined an urgent need for the professionalization and regulation of counselling to address these critical gaps. This mounting crisis isn't new; the 2025 State of Uganda Population Report, launched in February 2026, previously declared mental health a 'silent emergency,' revealing that nearly one in four adults and over 22% of children are affected by mental health issues. The report further highlighted an alarming 70% increase in diagnosed mental illness cases between 2021 and 2024, with high youth unemployment (over 50% of 18-30 year olds out of work or education) fueling distress. Compounding the problem is an outdated Mental Treatment Act of 1964, which experts say is offensive and no longer fit for purpose, along with persistent societal stigma that prevents many from seeking help. Moving forward, the UCA is actively pushing for a new bill to establish a clear regulatory council and set definitive standards for counselling practice, aiming to protect the public from untrained practitioners and legitimize the profession. The Ministry of Health is also planning to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare and boost the mental health workforce. This concerted effort hopes to improve access to quality counselling, reduce pervasive stigma, and ensure that Uganda's growing population, particularly its vulnerable youth, receives the professional mental health support it desperately needs for national development.