Mental Health Uganda
About Company
Our mission is “to create a unified voice that influences the provision of required services and opportunities, in favor of people with and survivors of mental illness in Uganda”
We are an indigenous, Non- Government, membership-based Disabled People’s Organization, established in 1997 and formally registered as a National NGO in 2001.This was in response to the overwhelming marginalization, isolation and abuse of rights of persons with psycho-social disabilities/users of psychiatry services, and their families.
Awareness Raising
In recognition of the high level of ignorance on disability issues MHU engages in collection, repackaging, documentation and dissemination of information pertaining to disability and development. For example MHU makes periodic publications highlighting their PLWMLs specific needs and challenges. These are disseminated to both MHU members, the community in which they live as well as policy makers and implementers. These are intended to raise awareness, provide information and facts pertaining to the situation of PLWMLs is Uganda.
This has the ability to later elicit required support and responses needed to meet MHU mission and objectives.
Mobilization of Members
MHU has mobilized their members in order to have a common voice that would present needs and challenges of PLWMLs and to help them recognize their challenges and potential to alleviate them. Mobilization has yielded for MHU18 district associations from different regions of Uganda. The district Associations then in turn mobilizes the sub county Association.
Psycho Social Rehabilitation
From 2010 to date, MHU has been working to improve the life of homeless people with mental illness living in the streets of Kampala. The project screens and provides first line treatment; supports referral to hospitals; provides on-site and telephone counselling; and supports family reunion after treatment. Three satellite centers have been set up to increase access to information and health services to these people.
In the districts, over 40 psycho-social support groups have been set up in 14 districts of Uganda. Psychosocial support has over the years helped to avoid relapses and adhere to medication; build and strengthen peer relationships; and increase individual and household productivity.
Policy, Legislation & Rights Advocacy
The advocacy program is the core function of MHU. MHU has worked with other partners in the review processes of the Mental Health Act (1964) and the Persons with Disability Act (2006). We now have Mental Health Act 2018 and Persons with Disability Act 2019.
At the international level, MHU participated in the 4th pre-sessional working group of the UNCRPD in September 2015 and the 15th session on the UNCRPD in April 2016 in Geneva. As a result of this advocacy, the committee, in their concluding observations to the state party – Uganda, highlighted areas for improvement for people with psycho-social disabilities.
Building Partnership & Collaboration
MHU is a member of NUDIPU, NUWODU, and Voices or Health Rights (VHR), a civil society coalition on the right to health. We have also been able to build alliances at international level with Validity Foundation We continue to work with local governments which largely support our work in the districts.
Capacity Building & Sustainable livehood Promotions
In the last six years, MHU has supported 14 district associations namely: Soroti, Serere, Mbale and Tororo (East) Gulu, Lira and Arua (North); Rukungiri, Mbarara, and Kabale (West) and Kampala, Mpigi, Gomba, and Butambala (Central). The capacity building initiatives included training in leadership, networking, fundraising, financial management, loans and savings, conflict management and resolution, governance, record management (especially membership registration and tracking), peer support and development of a manual, etc.. As a result, districts have been able to register as community based organizations with own bank accounts and about 800 members accessed funding to engage in income generation through the district disability grant and operation wealth creation
