The Ugandan government has unveiled plans to incorporate mental health and well-being into national workplace policies, aiming to foster safer, more supportive, and productive work environments across both the public and private sectors.
The announcement was made by Patrick Mugisha, the Commissioner for Business Development and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, during a breakfast meeting at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. The event, organized by Mental Health Uganda in partnership with EcoBank Uganda and the Ministry of Trade, marked World Mental Health Month.
Mugisha highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to integrate mental wellness as a core component of Uganda’s labour and business landscape, especially within micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “We are opening a new chapter on what mental health and well-being mean for the private sector,” Mugisha stated. “We recognize the private sector's role in Uganda’s economic growth and are committed to supporting them through policies that prioritize mental health.”
One of the Ministry’s key initiatives is the creation of a dedicated help desk for mental health and well-being. This service will offer technical and advisory support to both civil servants and MSMEs, focusing on workplace wellness. “We cannot focus solely on profit while neglecting the well-being behind the brands,” Mugisha emphasized. “The happiness of the brand should reflect in the happiness of the people it represents.”
Additionally, Mugisha revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with Mental Health Uganda, is exploring the development of a national standard for workplace mental health. This standard, to be certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), would be integrated into Uganda’s labour laws.
“We need to define what a workplace mental health policy should look like,” Mugisha said. “Together with Mental Health Uganda, we aim to develop a Uganda Standard to guide enforcement.”
He also pointed out that mental health needs vary across industries, requiring tailored approaches for each sector. “Mental health and decent work in oil and gas may look different from those in agriculture or education,” he explained. “We need to reassess and define what mental well-being means for each industry.”
Mugisha called for stronger collaboration between the government, civil society, and the private sector to create workplaces that promote both productivity and human dignity. “Uganda’s manufacturing sector still relies heavily on human labour, so we must ensure decent work—fair pay, social protection, and a mentally healthy environment,” he concluded.
Derrick Mbuga Kizza, Executive Director of Mental Health Uganda, emphasized the importance of having mental health policies to prevent stigma, discrimination, and job insecurity among employees. “We spend a large portion of our lives at work, so it must be a safe space for everyone,” Kizza said. “Employers should adopt policies that offer reasonable accommodations for employees with mental health challenges, rather than using it as grounds for dismissal.”
He encouraged organizations to integrate adjustments that help employees with mental health conditions perform effectively into their human resource frameworks. “Disclosure should be met with support, not punishment,” he added. “A strong policy benefits both the employer and the employee.”
Gloria Nalubowa, Head of Human Resources at EcoBank Uganda, argued that wellness should be viewed as a strategic business investment, rather than merely a welfare initiative. “Mental health cannot be discussed in isolation from overall employee wellness,” Nalubowa stated. “Investing in wellness delivers strong returns—research shows that 89% of employees in companies with wellness programs recommend their employers.”
She urged businesses to implement employee assistance programs, flexible work arrangements, and financial wellness initiatives, noting that such measures improve performance and reduce turnover. “We should allocate budgets for these initiatives, just as we do for marketing,” Nalubowa said. “If human capital is your greatest asset, then mental wellness should be a strategic priority.”
Experts at the meeting agreed that mental health should be institutionalized through policy and not treated as a one-time focus on commemorative days. “We can’t talk about productivity and competitiveness when workers are silently battling distress,” said Mbuga. “A mentally healthy workforce is a productive workforce.”