KAMPALA
As Uganda moves closer to the 2026 elections, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has urged government to consider introducing mandatory mental health screening for political aspirants, saying leadership requires individuals of sound mind at a time when mental illness cases are on the rise.
Earlier this week, Moses Okwera Mugisha, the party’s publicity secretary for health, observed that during political seasons like this, many politicians struggle with untreated mental illnesses such as stress, depression and probable anxiety which he says affects their decision-making, but also undermines the quality of governance.
“I know we are having nominations. Even some political leaders have a lot of issues to do with mental illness. Some are not given cards and you see how they are crying. Those are minor mental illnesses which can be handled. But major cases require serious attention,” Okwera said.
The call took a sharper political urgency after the party’s deputy publicity secretary in charge of publication and documentation, Mulindwa Walid Lubega said leaders seeking public office, particularly for presidency should undergo mental checkups to determine whether they are fit to govern.
“Indeed mental illness is real. How I wish leaders who are aspiring for political offices undergo mental checkups to ascertain if they fit for offices, especially the ones which are not minor,” Mulindwa stated.
The appeal comes at a time when Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital, the country’s main psychiatric facility is reportedly battling congestion, hosting an extreme number of 1,300 patients more than the recommended bed capacity of 900. FDC says routine medical check-ups would help in early detection, to reduce stigma, and enable professionals and politicians seeking for public offices to get treatment.
“It will also help us a lot because in this case offices are run by the mad people,” Mulindwa added.
Uganda’s Constitution bars persons of “unsound mind” from contesting for the presidency, and provides for the removal of a sitting president on medical grounds. The law also provides for a constitutionally mandated constitution of a tribunal or a medical board to examine the alleged incapacity. However, it doesn’t require pre-nomination medical or mental health checks for political aspirants.
The Presidential Elections Act, which governs nominations, requires candidates to submit nomination papers and a sworn declaration of qualification; the standard nomination declaration includes an assertion that the candidate “has not been adjudged or otherwise declared … to be of unsound mind under any law in force in Uganda.” The law therefore places the onus on candidates to declare their status rather than on election authorities to require medical certification before nomination.
FDC says the legal gaps that doesn’t require pre-nomination medical or mental health checks for political aspirants should be addressed to ensure leaders of sound mind and good governance. However, the proposal has been rejected by some mental health advocates who say that it raises sensitive and ethical concerns, and risks stigmatizing people with treatable disorders and could be used as a political tool unless tightly regulated.
