The release of the 28th Annual Report by the Uganda Human Rights Commission has triggered widespread concern across the country after exposing deepening human rights challenges, rising youth addiction, and growing mental health struggles. The report presents a disturbing picture of social hardship in Uganda, warning that increasing economic pressure, unemployment, and weak support systems are pushing many young people into depression, hopelessness, and substance abuse.
The report was officially launched in Kampala by Hon. Lamex Apitta Omara on behalf of Commission Chairperson Mariam Wangadya. During the launch, Omara clarified that the report was not intended to target or shame institutions, but rather to promote accountability, transparency, and stronger respect for human rights throughout the country. He called on both government and private institutions to take the findings seriously and work together to improve justice and democratic governance.
According to the findings, the commission registered 1,747 complaints in 2025, including 324 cases involving alleged violations of human rights. The Uganda Police Force recorded the highest number of complaints with 181 cases, followed by private individuals and the Uganda People’s Defence Force. Among the most reported violations were unlawful detention, torture, and denial of child maintenance, raising fresh concern over abuse of authority and the mistreatment of vulnerable citizens.
The report further revealed that the commission’s tribunal handled hundreds of matters during the year and awarded compensation totaling UGX 885 million to victims affected by torture, illegal detention, and other abuses. However, many victims continue to wait for justice due to delayed compensation caused by limited funding, outdated manual systems, and a growing backlog of unresolved cases that continue to slow investigations and case management.
One of the most troubling sections of the report focused on the escalating crisis of drug and alcohol abuse among young Ugandans. The commission warned that substance abuse is rapidly becoming a national emergency, particularly among unemployed youth aged between 18 and 30. It noted that Uganda remains among the world’s highest alcohol-consuming nations, with the average citizen reportedly consuming around 12 liters of pure alcohol annually.
The report linked the growing addiction crisis to several social and economic pressures, including poverty, unemployment, rural-urban migration, peer influence, and the impact of social media. These factors, according to the commission, are fueling emotional distress and worsening mental instability among many young people searching for relief from hardship and uncertainty.
The findings also showed that many children are being exposed to drugs and alcohol between the ages of 13 and 15, increasing the risk of long-term addiction and destructive behavior. Substances such as marijuana, kush, shisha, and kuba were identified as increasingly common among struggling youth attempting to escape daily pressures and frustrations through temporary highs.
Mental health experts cited in the report warned that health facilities across Uganda are facing mounting pressure as mental illness cases continue to rise. Nearly 3.7 million Ugandans are reportedly battling mental health challenges, with young people accounting for the largest percentage of those affected. Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital reportedly revealed that 40 percent of mental health admissions are linked to substance abuse, while facilities like Soroti Regional Referral Hospital continue to receive hundreds of mental health patients every week. Experts and legal scholars, including Daniel Ronald Ruhweza from Makerere University, have since urged the commission to strengthen research methods and protect constitutional safeguards as Uganda faces growing social pressure, addiction, and human rights concerns.
