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For many young people, saying “I am not okay” can be harder than dealing with the problem itself. Fear of being judged, laughed at, misunderstood or labelled “weak” can prevent young people from seeking the help they need. Mental health is often treated as a private matter that should be hidden rather than a normal part of human well-being.

“From Stigma to Support”

 But the conversation is changing. Increasingly, young people, schools, families, communities and organisations are recognizing that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health. The challenge now is to turn awareness into meaningful support.

A growing concern among young people

Mental health is an important part of adolescent development. The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven young people aged 10–19 globally experiences a mental health condition. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. These challenges can affect education, relationships, confidence and a young person’s ability to participate fully in society. When problems are ignored or left untreated, their effects can continue into adulthood. Yet the numbers tell only part of the story. Behind the statistics are young people who may sit silently in classrooms, withdraw from friends, struggle to concentrate, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed or constantly worry about their future. 

Some young people fear being called “crazy,” “weak,” “dramatic” or attention-seeking. Others worry that friends, parents or teachers will not understand them. UNICEF notes that stigma and fear of judgement can make it harder for children and adolescents to express their feelings and seek support. This means that a young person experiencing anxiety or depression may choose silence instead of support.

Stigma can also appear in everyday language. Statements such as “You worry too much,” “Just be strong,” or “Other people have bigger problems” may seem harmless, but they can discourage someone from opening up.

Instead, we can ask: “How are you really feeling?” “What can I do to support you?” or “Would you like someone to talk to? “Sometimes, a supportive conversation is the first step toward getting professional help.

Young people are already showing us the way

Recommendations: Moving from stigma to support

To create a healthier environment for young people’s mental health, several actions are important:

• Normalize conversations about mental health. Mental health should be discussed as part of ordinary health and well-being rather than as something shameful.
• Listen without judgement. Young people need adults and peers who will hear them before criticizing or dismissing them.
• Strengthen school-based support. Schools should provide accessible counselling, referral systems and mental-health education.
• Train teachers and youth leaders. They should be able to recognize signs of distress and know when and where to refer a young person for professional assistance.
• Promote peer support. Young people can be powerful advocates and sources of encouragement for their peers when properly trained and supported.
• Use technology responsibly. Digital platforms can provide information, connection and support, but they should complement not replace professional care where it is needed.
• Make services youth-friendly and confidential. Fear of exposure can prevent young people from seeking assistance.
• Include young people in decision-making. UNICEF emphasizes meaningful youth participation in the design and implementation of mental-health programmes and services. 
• Increase community awareness. Parents, religious and community leaders, teachers and youth organisations can all help challenge harmful myths about mental illness.
• Encourage early help-seeking. Seeking professional support should be presented as an act of courage and self-care, not weakness.

A conversation can change a life

The journey from stigma to support does not require one dramatic solution. It can begin with a simple conversation. Instead of asking a struggling young person, “What is wrong with you?”, we can ask, “What is happening, and how can I support you?”

Instead of laughing at someone who says they are struggling, we can listen. Instead of telling young people to “just be strong,” we can remind them that asking for help is also a form of strength.

Mental health challenges among young people are real, but so are the opportunities to prevent suffering, build resilience and create supportive communities. WHO emphasizes the importance of protecting adolescents from adversity, promoting social and emotional skills, and ensuring access to appropriate mental-health care. 

The future of youth mental health depends not only on hospitals and professionals. It also depends on families that listen, schools that care, communities that understand and young people who feel safe enough to speak.

Breaking stigma starts with changing the way we talk. Changing the way, we talk can change the way we respond. And changing the way we respond can give young people something they desperately need: a reason to believe that they do not have to struggle alone.

The author is the Projects and Program Manager at the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC)

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This piece is grounded in a statement that Dr. Gerald Zihembire Ahabwe posted on one of the Makerere PhD Graduate Alumni WhatsApp groups. Gerald texted that a lot more information keeps coming to him, albeit too late. He wrote: “Like now, you guys, why didn’t you tell me that my PhD thesis can be just about 20 pages? Why?”

The implication of the “why” question is that writing a PhD thesis, moreover from Makerere University, is very rigorous and involves some hectic work that can consume more than five years.

However, from the Department for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis at the Karamoja Anti-Corruption, we have observed that a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holder is indeed a knowledgeable person, not only in Uganda but internationally. One challenging issue in Uganda is that, these days, having a PhD can result in fewer opportunities.

Many people without PhDs will wonder how. But let us explain. Many organisations, including government departments, fear recruiting PhD holders, leaving them to struggle for themselves to survive. Even in the civil society space, PhD holders are treated with fear and discrimination. Actually, some non-PhD holders even refer to PhD holders as ‘wisekers’—people perceived as too clever, too theoretical or difficult to deal with.

However, one question we pose here is: for someone to earn a PhD in Uganda, it means that he or she has been using some of the government’s resources, whether the internet, buildings, roads, or other public infrastructure. But if these PhD holders are then left to struggle for themselves, it means the government is again losing the value of the resources it invested in these personalities.

One more disturbing issue is that people look at education as a way to get their families out of poverty. But, surprisingly, some academic engagements are keeping Africans in poverty.

This is why I call upon the Government not to neglect PhD holders in Uganda, but to find a solution to engage them and make them productive for the betterment of Uganda and for the future of Uganda.

Otherwise, if things are left to only the practicals without theoretical analysis, then things might lose science.

Ayub Mukisa, PhD, writes from the Department for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis at the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC).

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After taking her feud with Crysto Panda into deeply personal territory, Gloria Bugie has apologised to fans over remarks that sparked backlash online.

The singer came under fire after a now-deleted post in which she referenced some of Panda’s most painful personal experiences, including being an orphan and losing a child.

In a new post, Bugie acknowledged that her response had disappointed some of her fans. She also accused the media personality of repeatedly attacking her, her career and her family.

I am sorry to my fans that I have disappointed with my latest tweet about a media personality that has been sending merciless, endless attacks to me, my career & family while tagging me on their professional accounts. Meanwhile, I have not posted anyone or tagged them.

The controversy followed an online exchange that reportedly began after Bugie said she could teach Panda how to sing and hit the right notes.

Panda responded with criticism of Bugie and her career, and the exchange soon moved beyond music.

In her now-deleted August 26 post, Bugie brought up Panda’s late parents, the loss of his child, his career struggles and his financial situation.

The remarks triggered strong reactions online, with many people taking issue with her decision to bring his personal losses into the feud.

Bugie later called for equal judgment and healing as she apologised again to her fans.

I just pray that all the judgments fall equally on both sides and may everybody heal. Once again, I am sorry, my people.

Panda had earlier indicated that he wanted to step away from the exchange after receiving advice from people he respects.

Bugie has since deleted the post that sparked the backlash.

I’m sorry to my fans that I have disappointed with my latest tweet about a Media Personality that has been sending Merciless, Endless Attacks to Me, My Career & Family while tagging me on their professional accounts, Meanwhile I haven’t posted anyone or tagged them.
I just Pray…

— GLORIA BUGIE (@gloriabugie1) August 26, 2026

Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the committee is operating illegally, saying it was established by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2022 and continues to execute a presidential mandate aimed at expanding Uganda’s export economy.

Speaking at a press conference at PACEID headquarters in Naguru on Wednesday, Rwabwogo said the committee was commissioned on March 16, 2022, with a mandate covering market access, standards and compliance, export infrastructure and financing.

He said President Museveni subsequently placed PACEID within the President’s Office on May 25, 2022, further strengthening its institutional position.

“The President who appointed us, who gave us the mandate on 16 March 2022, and renewed it by locating us in the President’s Office on 25th of May of the same year, is the only one who can say you are no longer in operation,” Rwabwogo said.

His remarks followed a social media backlash questioning PACEID’s legal and institutional status.

Rwabwogo said he sought clarification from President Museveni over the allegations and was told to continue with the committee’s work.

“I asked him yesterday. He said, ‘I have not issued an order of that nature. Per se, go and work. Go do your work,’” Rwabwogo said.

From Market Access to Export Capacity

PACEID’s published mandate describes the committee as an intervention aimed at removing strategic and operational bottlenecks limiting Uganda’s industrial and export potential.

Its work is organised around four broad areas: markets, standards, infrastructure and finance.

Rwabwogo said the approach was designed to move Uganda away from what he described as “blind trade”—producing goods without adequately securing markets—and towards a system in which international demand drives production.

The committee has prioritised key export areas including coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables, beef, dairy, vanilla, grains, sugar, fish, banana flour, flowers, tourism, cement and steel.

Its initial objective was to generate an additional $6 billion in export earnings.

PACEID says its first phase focused on opening markets, removing trade barriers, improving product standards and compliance, supporting export firms, and addressing logistics and financing constraints.

The committee has now moved into what it calls PACEID 2.0, with greater emphasis on addressing supply constraints and building the infrastructure required to fulfil international orders.

Uganda’s Export Earnings Rise

Uganda’s export earnings have increased substantially since PACEID was established, although the growth cannot be attributed to the committee alone.

Uganda’s export earnings rose from about $4.28 billion in 2022 to approximately $13.43 billion in 2025, according to figures cited in a recent interview with Rwabwogo.

Government data also shows continued export growth in 2026. Merchandise export earnings reached $1.284 billion in June 2026, an 11% increase from $1.157 billion recorded in June 2025.

The increase was driven by higher earnings from commodities including gold, cotton, electricity, tobacco, maize and flowers.

The figures provide context for PACEID’s argument that Uganda’s export strategy is producing measurable results. However, the wider growth reflects the combined contribution of government policy, private-sector investment, commodity prices, increased production and the work of several public institutions—not PACEID alone.

Building an Export Ecosystem

Rwabwogo said the committee’s next challenge is no longer simply finding buyers but ensuring Uganda can consistently supply them.

Under PACEID 2.0, he said the committee intends to establish application and aggregation centres across 18 zones, equipped with facilities such as cooling, drying, energy and certification services.

The objective is to enable Uganda to meet a significant share of large international orders rather than repeatedly losing markets because producers cannot supply sufficient volumes or meet required standards.

“We have decided now to switch to what we call PACEID 2.0—to deal with supply constraints,” Rwabwogo said.

The approach is consistent with PACEID’s published strategy, which identifies inadequate production capacity, poor infrastructure and standards, and high financing costs as some of the key constraints holding back export growth.

PACEID’s activities have also increasingly focused on connecting individual producers and companies with international buyers.

The committee reported that during the first half of 2026, it registered 88 export transactions worth $24.5 million and supported 70 Ugandan companies across priority export value chains.

Nigeria Becomes the Next Test

Rwabwogo pointed to Nigeria as an example of PACEID’s market-access strategy.

He said Uganda’s trade with Nigeria has historically remained low, and PACEID is targeting a substantial increase by addressing tariff, standards, certification and other market-access barriers.

The chairman said the committee was negotiating with Nigerian trade representatives to improve the conditions under which Ugandan products enter the Nigerian market, including the implementation of agreed African trade arrangements.

Such work, he argued, requires officials and trade representatives on the ground who understand the regulatory, standards and market requirements of destination countries.

PACEID says it has established trade representatives in markets including the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, the Balkans and the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of its strategy to connect Ugandan producers with international buyers.

PACEID’s Role Alongside Existing Institutions

The controversy surrounding PACEID also highlights an important distinction: the committee does not replace Uganda’s established ministries, regulators and statutory agencies.

Its stated role is advisory and coordination-oriented, bringing together market intelligence, standards, infrastructure, financing and production concerns around export opportunities.

Many of the functions mentioned by Rwabwogo—including food safety, certification, transport infrastructure and financing—remain the responsibility of established government institutions and regulators.

PACEID’s argument is that Uganda needs stronger coordination among those institutions if it is to compete effectively in international markets.

In 2026, President Museveni appointed Richard Byarugaba and Moses Sabiti as Senior Presidential Advisors on exports and industrial development, with responsibilities covering export funding, infrastructure, data and product aggregation.

The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation has also described PACEID as the President’s advisory team on exports and industrial development and reported that it was commissioned in March 2022.

“We Are Here and We Are Working”

For Rwabwogo, the controversy should not distract from PACEID’s central objective of increasing Uganda’s ability to earn from international trade.

He said PACEID began with limited credit support for enterprises but has since helped create channels through which Ugandan businesses can participate in export transactions.

He estimated that companies supported by the committee are now supplying products worth between $20 million and $30 million per quarter, involving more than 60 companies across approximately 13 sectors.

“We are here and we are working and we are humble, but very effective at what we do,” he said.

The defence comes as Uganda seeks to turn rising export earnings into broader industrial transformation.

The challenge ahead is less about proving that exports are growing and more about whether the country can sustain that growth through higher productivity, stronger standards, reliable infrastructure, affordable finance and consistent supply.

For PACEID, that is the rationale behind its second phase: converting market opportunities into dependable production capacity and ensuring Ugandan businesses can fulfil the orders the committee is working to secure.

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Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has welcomed American superstar Tyrese Gibson to Uganda, encouraging him to consider the country a second home and help attract more African Americans to visit.

Gen Muhoozi shared the message after meeting Gibson, who is in Uganda for engagements touching on the country’s creative arts and tourism sectors.

“Today, I was very happy and honoured to meet the American superstar Tyrese Gibson. I told him to consider Uganda as his second home and bring more of our black brothers and sisters in America to visit,” Gen Muhoozi said.

Gibson, who has built a career spanning music and Hollywood, was hosted alongside several Ugandan personalities from the entertainment and business sectors.

Among those present were singer Bebe Cool and his wife Zuena, as well as Talent Africa Group chief executive officer Aly Alibhai.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Uganda’s creative arts and tourism potential, with Gibson’s visit bringing an international spotlight to the country’s entertainment and cultural offerings.

Gen Muhoozi’s invitation also highlighted the potential for stronger cultural links between Uganda and the African American community, particularly through tourism, music and the wider creative industry.

Gibson says the visit offers an opportunity to experience Uganda beyond its traditional tourism attractions while engaging with local creatives and industry players.

The General is happy ? pic.twitter.com/INAgFLIHAj

— sQoop (@sQoopUG) August 26, 2026

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has defended field inspection tours by government officials, including Hon. Balaam Barugahara and Hon. Nameere, saying their direct engagement with citizens is necessary given the widespread reports of corruption across government institutions.

In a statement addressed to Ugandans, particularly the younger generation, President Museveni dismissed concerns that the officials could be “Kutomera” — blindly stumbling into issues — during their field visits.

He argued that the scale and frequency of reported corruption cases, coupled with what he described as impunity among some officials, justified direct engagement with citizens.

Museveni recalled that during the recent campaign period, some of his activities were interrupted after he received complaints from citizens about corruption, including alleged abuse of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

He also cited reports from elders in Bunyoro concerning the alleged sale of local government jobs, as well as concerns over “ghost” learners and teachers in government schools and health facilities.

“Therefore, the fear that the Barugaharas and Nameeres may Kutomera, may not be based on facts,” Museveni said.

The President called on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to designate an officer who can rapidly assess evidence emerging from the field and ensure that cases involving suspected corruption are prosecuted.

According to Museveni, two major factors have continued to undermine the fight against corruption: alleged cover-ups by officials responsible for protecting public interests and the failure by sections of the elite to report wrongdoing despite having access to decision-making centres.

He said the public barazas conducted by Barugahara, Nameere and others have helped bypass what he described as a “blockade” created by individuals within the elite who shield corrupt officials.

Museveni, however, noted that some members of the elite have acted patriotically by exposing corruption.

He singled out Hon. Byamukama, whom he said reported a racket involving extortionists operating within State House. According to Museveni, the suspects were subsequently trapped and arrested.

“This corruption in Uganda is stoppable,” the President said, urging government officials not to cover up corruption and citizens to report cases of wrongdoing.

Museveni also revealed that he had previously assigned former Minister Raphael Magyezi to follow up on corruption complaints raised by citizens.

Although Magyezi visited some of the affected areas, Museveni said decisive action appeared not to have followed, prompting the need for renewed efforts to address the complaints.

The President said the strong public response to Barugahara and Nameere’s field engagements demonstrates citizens’ eagerness for leaders who directly listen to their concerns and take action.

He compared the current public mobilisation to the early days of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), when large crowds voluntarily attended public meetings without being provided with food, drinks or other incentives.

Museveni said the renewed public participation should encourage government institutions to respond decisively to corruption complaints and ensure that those found culpable face the law.

He concluded by reiterating his call for government officials to stop protecting corrupt individuals and for citizens to report wrongdoing whenever they encounter it.

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