Uganda lacks secure forensic psychiatry ward, Butabika director warns

The Executive Director of Butabika National Referral Hospital, Juliet Nakku, has revealed that Uganda currently has no secure forensic psychiatry ward, raising concerns about the management of mentally ill suspects in the criminal justice system.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Nakku said the gap has left the country ill-equipped to safely handle high-risk patients who require specialized psychiatric evaluation and containment.

She cited a recent case of a man accused of killing four toddlers at a daycare centre in Ggaba as an example of the complex cases that require urgent forensic psychiatric attention.

Nakku told legislators that without a dedicated forensic psychiatry facility, such suspects are often held in inappropriate settings, including prisons or general hospital wards, which may not have the capacity to manage them safely.

She also called for the urgent recruitment of forensic psychiatrists, noting that the country has a critical shortage of specialists trained to assess the mental state of suspects involved in serious crimes.

Experts say forensic psychiatrists play a vital role in determining whether an accused person was mentally fit at the time of committing an offence, guiding courts on criminal responsibility, and recommending appropriate treatment or confinement.

The absence of such expertise and infrastructure, Nakku warned, risks undermining both justice and patient care, as courts may lack the professional guidance needed in cases involving mental illness.

Her remarks have sparked renewed calls for investment in mental health services, particularly in the intersection between healthcare and the criminal justice system, where gaps remain pronounced.