By Ben Musanje
In a startling revelation that is sending shockwaves across the nation, a new study has uncovered that a staggering one in four children aged 6 to 17 in Uganda are at risk of developing a substance use disorder.
The findings, presented by Dr. Harriet Abe of Makerere University’s School of Public Health at the National Annual Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NACNDC) and 19th Joint Scientific Health (JASH) Conference 2025, have raised serious alarms about the growing crisis of substance abuse among Uganda’s youth.
This shocking discovery comes from research conducted between 2022 and 2024, which found that children as young as six years old are already engaging in intentional alcohol consumption, with nearly 9% of children aged 6 to 9 identified as being at significant risk of addiction.
“This is not accidental sipping; these children are deliberately drinking,” Dr. Abe emphasized. “What we’re seeing is a disturbing trend where children are exposed to and often normalized into substance use at home.”
Dr. Abe’s study points to the widespread culture of alcohol consumption in Uganda, where the country’s per capita alcohol intake is nearly double the global average.
“This culture is trickling down to children,” Dr. Abe warned. “When children see their parents or grandparents drinking, they start to mirror that behavior, and before long, it’s no longer just curiosity—it’s an addiction in the making.”
Even more alarming is the lack of resources within Uganda’s healthcare system to address this escalating problem.
The study found that only one-third of health facilities in Mbale were equipped to effectively manage substance use cases.
“Health facilities are sitting on the frontlines of this crisis, but they are not prepared to handle it,” Dr. Abe stated. “Children are coming in for routine care, like malaria treatment or vaccinations, but we’re missing the chance to intervene for substance use.”
In an effort to combat this, Dr. Abe introduced a new, child-friendly screening tool that allows healthcare workers to identify potential substance use among children during routine visits.
The tool, designed to be quick and non-invasive, has already been hailed as a breakthrough in early detection.
“More than 80% of children and caregivers found the screening acceptable, which is a promising sign,” Dr. Abe explained. “This tool is giving children the chance to open up about their struggles and begin to get the help they need before it’s too late.”
However, the findings also revealed that the healthcare system is woefully unprepared to act on this newfound information. “Without proper staffing and resources, these facilities are powerless to provide the care these children desperately need,” Dr. Abe said. “We have the chance to intervene early, but only if we act fast.”
The study also uncovered a deeper, systemic issue: many parents and caregivers are utterly overwhelmed and unaware of how to deal with their children’s substance use.
“Parents are at a loss,” Dr. Abe noted. “They often don’t know where to turn for help and try to handle the situation on their own, but that rarely works. There’s a clear need for more support and education for families.”
The urgency of the issue was further underscored at the conference by Justice Duncan Gaswanga, a judge at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In his address, Gaswanga warned that Uganda’s education system could be inadvertently contributing to mental health issues that drive substance abuse.
“When students are grouped and separated based on their academic abilities, it creates a sense of inadequacy and trauma that severely damages their mental well-being,” Gaswanga said. “This system is setting children up for failure and can lead to destructive coping mechanisms, including substance use.”
Gaswanga called for an urgent overhaul of the educational system, advocating for a more inclusive approach that nurtures children’s diverse talents and ensures they do not feel marginalized or excluded.
“If we don’t address these issues within the education system, we are leaving our children vulnerable to mental health crises and addiction,” he warned.
Dr. Hafsa Lukwata Ssentongo, Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health and Control of Substance Use at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, also weighed in on the growing crisis.
She highlighted the alarming rise in mental health issues like depression and anxiety among children, alongside the increasing prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse. “Our children are struggling with their mental health, and many are turning to substances as a way to cope,” Dr. Lukwata stated. “We need to act now to prevent an entire generation from falling into addiction.”
She called for a national focus on integrating mental health services into schools and communities, as well as improving awareness about the signs of substance abuse. “We cannot afford to wait until these children are lost to addiction. Early intervention is key.”
The findings from Dr. Abe’s study paint a grim picture of Uganda’s future unless immediate action is taken.
With one in four children at risk of substance use disorder, experts warn that the country is facing a public health crisis of unprecedented proportions.
“This is a wake-up call,” Dr. Abe concluded. “If we don’t act now, we risk losing an entire generation to addiction. The future of Uganda depends on how we address this issue today.”
The research, funded by Makerere University, is already prompting calls for urgent policy reforms and increased public awareness campaigns to tackle the root causes of substance use among children.
Without swift intervention, Uganda’s next generation could face an uphill battle against addiction that could leave lasting scars on the nation’s future. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
