Kamuli District | 18th August 2025 — The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) continued its campaign to promote mental wellbeing among educators with a Mental Health Training held at Bugabula Guest House in Kamuli District. The session brought together 170 head teachers from both primary and secondary schools, reaffirming the union’s commitment to supporting teacher leaders with relevant knowledge and psychosocial tools.
The training is part of UNATU’s broader effort to address the growing mental health challenges facing educators across Uganda. Designed specifically for teacher leaders, the session aimed to build awareness, reduce stigma, and equip school heads with the knowledge to support themselves and their staff in dealing with stress, burnout, and other psychosocial concerns.
The District Education Officer (DEO) of Kamuli delivered welcome remarks, thanking UNATU for organizing such a timely and much-needed intervention. He noted that many teachers are silently battling mental health issues, especially due to high workloads, financial pressures, and limited access to support systems. The DEO emphasized the importance of open dialogue and professional support in helping teachers thrive.
The day’s key session featured a comprehensive presentation on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, including discussions on alcohol and substance abuse, stress management, and the need for mental resilience in leadership. Head teachers were encouraged to take care of their mental wellbeing and to create supportive environments for their staff.
A vibrant plenary session followed, where participants raised a range of questions. Key concerns included:
The status of salary enhancement for teachers
Challenges with pension access and retirement planning
Leave entitlements and service procedures
The UNATU General Secretary addressed these questions in detail, updating participants on the union’s ongoing engagements with government and relevant stakeholders on the salary enhancement issue. He also cautioned teachers against misinformation and urged them to remain united, emphasizing that splinter groups only weaken collective efforts.
The training officially concluded with closing remarks from the General Secretary, who thanked the participants for their active involvement and called on them to cascade the information shared to fellow teachers in their schools.
