Uganda is facing a silent epidemic. According to the Ministry of Health, 14 million people in the country live with mental health challenges. If each interacts with just two others, nearly every Ugandan is affected directly or indirectly. This crisis is too big to ignore.
Mental health challenges are often invisible, yet they affect every aspect of life—education, relationships, productivity, and even national development. Unfortunately, stigma, underfunding, and lack of services have left many without the care they need.
At Pounds Recreation Centre, we see the effects of this crisis every day. Children battling depression after being abandoned, young people turning to drugs to escape pain, or teenagers dropping out of school because of untreated trauma. These are not statistics—they are human lives.
We believe Uganda’s future depends on addressing mental health with urgency and compassion. That is why our programs prioritize counseling, awareness campaigns, and community outreach. By normalizing conversations around mental health, we break the stigma that keeps so many suffering in silence.
The truth is: we cannot do it alone. Governments, communities, and individuals must come together to invest in mental health. Every act of support, no matter how small, contributes to saving lives.
Mental health is not a luxury—it is a necessity. By standing with Pounds, you join the fight against one of Uganda’s most urgent crises.
