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The Uganda Human Rights Commission’s 28th Annual Report has sparked intense national discussion after revealing a troubling rise in human rights violations alongside growing concerns over drug abuse and mental health challenges, particularly among young Ugandans. The findings suggest an increasingly fragile social environment shaped by economic pressure, governance gaps, and weakening protection systems.
Released in Kampala by Hon. Lamex Apitta Omara on behalf of Commission Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, the report was presented as a call for accountability and reform rather than blame. Officials urged institutions and citizens alike to treat the findings seriously and work collectively to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law.
According to the report, the commission registered 1,747 complaints in 2025, with 324 confirmed cases of human rights violations. The Uganda Police Force accounted for the largest share of complaints, followed by private individuals and the Uganda People’s Defence Force, with allegations mainly involving torture, unlawful detention, denial of liberty, and failure to provide child maintenance.
The tribunal processed numerous cases during the year and awarded approximately UGX 885 million in compensation to victims of abuse and unlawful treatment. However, the report notes that many victims still experience delays in receiving justice due to limited funding, backlog of cases, and outdated systems that slow down investigations and administrative processes.
One of the most alarming sections of the report highlights a rapid rise in drug and alcohol abuse among young people, particularly those between 18 and 30 years. The commission links this trend to unemployment, poverty, peer influence, rural-urban migration, and growing exposure to harmful content on social media platforms.
The report further warns that substance use is beginning at increasingly younger ages, with children between 13 and 15 already experimenting with alcohol and narcotics. Substances such as marijuana, kush, shisha, and kuba are identified as commonly used drugs among youth seeking temporary escape from stress, hardship, and uncertainty about the future.
Mental health concerns are also escalating, with about 3.7 million Ugandans reportedly affected. Health facilities such as Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital report that a significant portion of admissions is linked to substance abuse, while regional hospitals continue to struggle with rising numbers of psychiatric patients requiring care and support.
As debate grows around the report’s findings, experts and legal analysts are calling for urgent reforms to improve institutional efficiency, strengthen data systems, and enforce constitutional protections such as the 48-hour detention rule. The report stands as a stark reminder that Uganda is facing a deepening crisis that demands urgent attention to protect human dignity and restore hope among its youth.
