The number of people suffering on mental illiness is on increase in Uganda. The government of Uganda claims that these cases are fuelled by the increasing cases of HIV/AIDS pandemic, high consumption of alcohol and drug abuse.

The ministry of health’s principal medical officer in charge of mental health, Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi says that about 80% of HIV patients in Uganda have distress or “pure mental illness” caused by stigma and the negative perception that having HIV means death.

Prof. Graham Thornicroft, the leader of Emerald, a research project on emerging mental health systems in low and middle-income countries, says that across the world between 25% and 30% of people living with HIV exhibit have some forms of mental illness.
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