The Executive Director of Butabika National Referral Hospital, Juliet Nakku, has revealed that Uganda currently lacks a secure forensic psychiatry ward to handle high-risk patients involved in criminal cases.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Nakku highlighted the gap while referencing the recent case of a suspect accused of killing four toddlers in Ggaba.
She called for the urgent recruitment of forensic psychiatrists, noting that such specialists are essential in handling complex cases where mental illness may be a factor.
Experts emphasize that forensic psychiatrists play a critical role in assessing a suspect’s mental state, advising courts on criminal responsibility, and ensuring that individuals requiring psychiatric care are managed in secure and appropriate facilities.
The absence of such infrastructure, they warn, risks placing mentally ill suspects in ordinary prisons or general hospital wards, raising concerns about safety, justice, and proper treatment.
