Government Calls for Institutionalised Mental Health Interventions

Dr. Chris Baryomunsi called for the institutionalisation of proven mental health initiatives to address stigma and mental health challenges among young people and communities. Emphasising the economic implications of mental health conditions, he pledged continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners to advance policies that position mental health as a national priority.

The call reinforced the importance of integrating mental health prevention and support into schools, communities and other everyday settings where people live, learn and interact.

Game Connect Highlights the Role of Sport in Mental Health

Representing the Game Connect Consortium, the UOC Communications Officer highlighted the project’s Structured Sport for Mental Health approach, which uses sport-based interventions to strengthen young people’s coping skills, resilience and psychosocial well-being.

Game Connect is a sport-for-protection initiative launched by the Olympic Refuge Foundation to promote mental health, psychosocial well-being and social cohesion among young people from refugee and host communities in Uganda. Through structured sporting activities and safe, inclusive environments, the project creates opportunities for young people to build relationships, develop confidence and strengthen their ability to navigate life’s challenges.

The project operates through a consortium led by AVSI Foundation alongside partners including UOC, Right To Play, Youth Sport Uganda and UNHCR, Sponsored by Olympic Refuge Foundation

Participation in the National Mental Health Run provided an opportunity to connect the project’s work within refugee and host communities to the wider national conversation on mental health. It also underscored how sport can serve as a platform for inclusion, social connection and psychosocial support when delivered through intentional, structured interventions.

In its brief address, the consortium reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening young people’s coping skills and resilience in schools and communities. It also called on the government and relevant ministries to prioritise and institutionalise preventive mental health interventions, including Game Connect and structured mental health support in schools, to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

From Awareness to Action

The National Mental Health Run served as a reminder that mental health requires sustained attention beyond commemorative events. While awareness campaigns help challenge stigma and encourage open conversations, lasting progress depends on accessible support systems, early intervention and preventive programmes embedded in communities and educational institutions.

For UOC and its partners, the message is clear: sport can contribute to more than physical fitness and sporting excellence. When intentionally designed to support mental well-being, it can help young people feel connected, build resilience and develop the skills they need to navigate difficult experiences.

As Uganda continues to strengthen its response to mental health challenges, institutionalising effective preventive interventions will be essential to protecting young people’s well-being and building healthier, more resilient communities.

Through initiatives such as Game Connect, UOC remains committed to promoting the value of sport as a tool for protection, inclusion and psychosocial well-being, ensuring that young people are not only given opportunities to participate in sport but are also supported to thrive.