Mental Health Uganda (MHU) is an indigenous, Non- Government, membership-based Disabled People’s Organization, established in 1997 and formally registered as a National NGO in 2001. This was in response to the overwhelming marginalization, isolation and abuse of rights of persons with psycho-social disabilities/users of psychiatry services, and their families.
The organization mission is “to create a unified voice that influences the provision of required services and opportunities, in favor of people with and survivors of mental illness in Uganda
MHU is based in all regions of the country. The composition of members includes people with mental illness, caregivers, and service providers. Caregivers are the primary contact for persons living with mental illness and often play a very important role to ensure that the user of psychiatric services accesses the required medical treatment, adheres to the treatment, and receives other basic requirements of life. The total number of members in all districts is over twenty five thousand (25,000) at present of which, about 65% are people with a living experience of mental illness. We are the biggest organization of people living with mental illness in Africa.
We have a functional BOD of 9 executives that are elected by the General Assembly to run the organization on their behalf for a period of 5 years. Representatives from the district assemblies make up the general assembly which is the top organ of MHU. Most notably, the BOD has a representative of youth, women, care givers and mental health service providers. From the 9 positions, 7 of them must have a lived experience of mental illness.
We have a Secretariat, mandated to deliver the day to day activities and is headed by the Executive Director, supported by several technical and support staff.