Government urges Ugandan workers to prioritise own mental well-being

The government has called on Ugandan workers to place greater attention on their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, and warned that stress, anxiety, depression and workplace pressure are increasingly affecting productivity and national development.

Speaking ahead of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026, State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations Esther Anyakun Davinia said modern workplaces are creating new pressures that cannot be ignored.

The minister noted that while Uganda has made progress in strengthening occupational safety systems through inspections, regulations and awareness campaigns, equal attention must now be given to workers’ psychosocial wellbeing.

“The modern workplace is evolving rapidly, bringing with it new pressures such as high workloads, job insecurity, long working hours, workplace harassment, and the impact of economic and technological changes,” she said.

These pressures, she said, contribute significantly to stress, anxiety, depression and reduced productivity if not properly managed.

She said psychosocial resilience should not only focus on how individuals cope, but also on how organisations create supportive environments where workers feel valued, protected and empowered.

Anyakun called on employers to integrate mental health and psychosocial risk management into workplace safety policies, promote openness and respect, provide access to counselling services, and ensure reasonable workloads and work-life balance.

“To the workers out there, I urge you to prioritize your mental wellbeing, seek support when needed, and actively participate in workplace mental health programmes,” she said.

She also appealed to workers’ unions, employers’ organisations and development partners to continue supporting programmes that address psychosocial risks at work.

Uganda will join the rest of the world on April 28 to mark the day under the theme: “Building Psychosocial Resilience: Sustaining Uganda’s OSH Gains through Mental Wellbeing and Organizational Strengthening.”

Anyakun said this year’s focus is on a critical but often neglected part of occupational safety and health, the mental wellbeing of workers.

“This important day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our progress in ensuring safe and healthy workplaces, while also renewing our commitment to addressing emerging challenges that affect workers across all sectors,” she said.

The government has lined up several activities to mark the commemoration, including a National OSH Symposium at Nakawa Innovation Hub, a sanitation drive in Njeru Nile Market, an OSH run at the Ministry headquarters, and the main event at St Noah Mawagali S.S in Mbiko on April 28.

Anyakun said government remains committed to enforcing occupational safety standards and promoting policies that protect both the physical and mental wellbeing of workers across Uganda.