East Africa is coming together to accelerate the scale-up of community-based mental health care.
Together, leaders, innovators, and advocates are driving forward scalable, sustainable solutions for mental health integration across every sector.
Thank you for joining us! Please see the program below.
This event is hosted by the Uganda Ministry of Health.
This year’s theme is “Making mental health and wellbeing a cross-sectoral priority in East Africa.”
Day One
08:00 – 09:00 | Arrival and Registration of Delegates | Instruments and melodies of East Africa by the Ndere Troupe
09:00 – 09:15 | Anthems (East African Community & Uganda)
09:15 – 09:30 | Voice of Lived Experience | Ms. Barbara Joyce Abang, Author, Blogger, and Mental Health Advocate
09:30 – 09:45 | Welcome Remarks | Ms. Milly Katana, Board Chairperson, StrongMinds Uganda
09:45 – 10:00 | Remarks | Dr. Diana Atwine Kanzira, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Uganda
10:00 – 10:15 | Remarks |Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, East African Community
10:00 – 10:15 | Remarks | Dr. Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Country Representative, Uganda
10:15 – 10:30 | Opening Remarks | Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Health, Uganda
10:30 – 11:00 | Guest Speaker Address: Shaping the Future of East Africa. Mental health and well-being as the foundation of human capital and regional progress, including the demographic dividend | Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Uganda
11:00 – 11:15 | Mental Health Break | East African Dance Medley performed by the Ndere Troupe
11:15 – 11:30 | Keynote Address: Making Mental Health a Development Priority in the East African Region: Delivering on the Commitments for EAC Vision 2050 and AU Agenda 2063 | Prof. Vincent Sezibera, Director, Centre for Mental Health, University of Rwanda
11:30 – 13:00 | Session 1: State of Mental Health in the East African Region. Each panelist shares an update on the mental health burden in their country, its key determinants, and progress on the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 | Session Chair: Dr. Florence Baingana, Retired Psychiatrist, Public Health Specialist, and Independent Consultant; former WHO AFRO Regional Advisor for Mental, Neurological and Substance Use (MNS)
- Uganda – Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, Assistant Commissioner Mental Health and Substance Use, MoH Uganda
- Kenya – Dr. Mercy Karanja, Head of Mental Health Division, Ministry of Health Kenya
- Tanzania – Dr. Omary Ubuguyu, Assistant Director and Head of NCDs and Mental Health, Ministry of Health Tanzania
- Burundi – Dr. Leopold Ndikuriyo, Head of the Mental Health and Epilepsy Unit, Burundi
- South Sudan – Dr. Onwar Abathur Nyibong, Director for NCDs, Ministry of Health, South Sudan
- Somalia – Dr. Zeynab Ahmed Noor, Head of the Mental Health and Substance Use Section, Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, Somalia
- DRC – Dr. Gedeon Samba Nkanda, MD, MPH, MPA, Director General Health Services, DRC
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break, Networking and Exhibition
14:00 – 15:15 | Session 2: MHPSS in Public Health Emergencies, Refugee Response, and Climate Change: Rights-centric, trauma-sensitive care within carceral systems and humanitarian settings | Session Chair: Dr. Atek Kagirita, Director and Deputy Incident Commander, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Uganda
- How public health research is helping the region plan, prepare, and respond during emergencies – Dr. Innocent Yusuf, Senior Public Health Researcher, Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH), Tanzania
- Policy safeguards for mental health in conflict-affected communities: South Sudan’s experience – Ms. Regina Ossa Lullo, Director General, Directorate of Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, South Sudan
- Risks of poorly coordinated MHPSS in emergency response: lessons from the DRC – Dr. Kpanda Mbongosi Marie Louise, Focal Point, Technical Working Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, DRC
- Mental health integration in the refugee context amid declining donor support – Ms. Grace Obalim, MHPSS Technical Lead, TPO Uganda
- Climate and health: adaptation strategies for climate-induced mental health issues – Dr. Herbert Nabaasa, Commissioner of Environmental Health, MoH Uganda
14:00 – 15:15 | Session 3: Task Sharing as a Lever for Scaling Mental Health Services at Community Level: Centering human dignity through community models, task sharing, and lived experience | Session Chair: Dr. Richard Kabanda, Commissioner for Health Promotion, Education and Strategic Communication, MoH Uganda
- Task sharing in community-based mental health services: what has worked and what has not – Ms. Stella Waruinge, Head of the Mental Health and Substance Use Program, Nairobi County Health Services, Kenya
- Task sharing in community-based mental health services: what has worked and what has not – Dr. Allan Katamba, District Health Officer, Buikwe District, Uganda
- Experiences and lessons from providing community-based care in Uganda – Ms. Nayiga Esther Faith, Community Health Extension Worker, Luweero District, Uganda
- Experiences and lessons from providing community-based care in Kenya – Ms. Ria Juma Kumbe, Community Health Promoter, Kenya
- The role of peers and people with lived experience in community-based care – Mr. Samuel Odong Kara, Peer Support Worker, You Belong Uganda
15:15 – 16:30 | Session 4: Mental Health as a Private Sector Priority: How the private sector can help close the mental health gap and bring mental health into its CSR and ESG agenda | Session Chair: Ms. Susan Nsibirwa, Managing Director, Nation Media Group Uganda
- The private sector’s role in closing the mental health gap, and mental health in the ESG agenda – Mr. Paul Mwirigi, Managing Director, Capital One Group, and Chairman, Board of Directors, StrongMinds Kenya
- The role of the insurance sector in addressing the growing mental health burden – Ms. Mary Wanjugu Waweru, Head of Care Management, SanlamAllianz Uganda Life
- Making rehabilitation services more available in rural communities: lessons from 25 years of private rehabilitation care – Mr. Emmanuel Mubangizi, Founder and Director, Serenity Centre Uganda
- Balancing staff mental wellness with performance goals – Mr. Paul Rumanda Rugambwa, Chairman, Human Resources Managers’ Association of Uganda
16:30 | Closure of Day One
Day Two
08:00 – 09:00 | Arrival and Registration of Delegates | Drum therapy session with Jenva Ngoma
09:00 – 09:15 | Remarks | Dr. Charles Oyoo, Commissioner Non-Communicable Diseases, MoH Uganda
09:00 – 09:15 | Remarks | Hon. Rose Obiga, Chairperson, Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health
09:15 – 09:30 | Guest Speaker Address: The Youth and Children’s Perspective on Mental Health | Hon. Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, and Woman Member of Parliament, Alebtong District
09:45 – 10:00 | Voice of Lived Experience | Ms. Sarah Tushemereirwe
[Time TBC] | Session 5: Scaling Sustainable Financing for Mental Health: Innovations, existing mechanisms, and gaps | Session Chair: Dr. Juliet Nakku, Executive Director, Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital, Uganda
- Mental Health: A Silent Emergency. How the State of Uganda Population Report 2025 is shaping planning and budgeting – Dr. Hamis Mugendawala, Executive Director, National Planning Authority, Uganda
- Parliament’s role in prioritizing mental health financing and reaching the WHO-recommended 5% health budget allocation – Hon. Komaketch, Chairperson, Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health (UPFMH), and Member of Parliament, Aruu
- Opportunities for mental health financing in Kenya’s new health insurance scheme – Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General Health Services, Ministry of Health Kenya
- Harnessing local government financing for mental health at district level – Ms. Charlotte Oloya, Deputy Country Director, StrongMinds Uganda
- Lessons from Rwanda’s progress in financing mental health services – Dr. Alier Nyok Deng, Director General for Medical Services, Ministry of Health, South Sudan
11:40 – 13:00 (Parallel Session) | Session 6: Fast-Tracking Mental Health Integration: Leveraging technological innovations and adaptations in mental health | Session Chair: Ms. Elna Maro, Growth and Partnerships Lead, Ahadi Tanzania
- Using AI to close the mental health treatment gap in East Africa – Dr. Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende, Department of Computer Science, Makerere University
- Integrating mental health indicators into Uganda’s electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) – Dr. Paul Mbaka, Head, Division of Health Information, MoH Uganda
- Lessons from scaling e-Ruhuka, Rwanda’s e-mental health app – Prof. Vincent Sezibera, Director, Centre for Mental Health, University of Rwanda
- Protecting young people’s mental health online – Ms. Sabrina Atwine, Head of Digital Business, Next Media
- Supporting adolescents’ mental health through the “Buddy” chatbot – Mr. Paul Kulyabingi, Child Protection and Mental Health Practitioner and Assistant Casework Supervisor, SAUTI 116 National Helpline, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda
11:40 – 13:00 (Parallel Session) | Session 7: Policy Barriers to Mental Health Integration in Primary Healthcare (PHC): Confronting outdated legal structures and moving care from psychiatric institutions to communities | Session Chair: Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume, Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care), Uganda
- Legal and structural barriers to mental health integration in PHC across the region – Hon. Dr. Siranda Blacks Gerald, Member, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
- Policy barriers to mental health integration in PHC in Kenya – Dr. Priscilla Makau, Policy Advisor, Presidential Advisory on Mental Health, Kenya
- Policy barriers to mental health integration in PHC in Tanzania – Dr. Omary Obuguyu, Head of NCDs, Ministry of Health Tanzania
- How the policy environment has enabled mental health integration in PHC in the DRC – Dr. Angie Sifa, Public Mental Health Expert, National Mental Health Program, Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, DRC
- Can PHC integration ease pressure on mental referral facilities? – Dr. Brian Byama Mutamba, Deputy Executive Director, Butabika National Mental Hospital
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch and Structured Networking for Multi-Sector Collaboration
14:00 – 14:15 | TED-Style Talk | NSSF [speaker and topic TBC]
[Time TBC] | Closed Session Ministerial Roundtable: Framing the Regional Mental Health Agenda and Priority Actions Ahead of Rwanda 2027
[Time TBC] | Session 9: Multisectorality as a Lever for Scaling Mental Health and Wellness Services Across Government: Youth-friendly mental health in SRH, school-based reforms, workplaces, and mental health in correctional services | Session Chair: Prof. Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences
- What has changed in prisons since integrating the StrongMinds model into services for inmates and staff – ACP Bryan Corr Mbaziira, Assistant Commissioner of Prisons, Uganda Prisons Service
- Best practices for inter-sectoral coordination of the mental health response – Dr. Kenneth Kalani, Senior Medical Officer, Mental Health Division, MoH Uganda
- Policy reforms to advance mental health and wellbeing in the workplace – Dr. Scarlet Mubokyi, Principal Occupational Physician, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda
- What integrating mental health brings to the education system – Mrs. Harriet Ajilong, Commissioner Guidance and Counselling, Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda
- Integrating mental health into the NCD response in Tanzania – Dr. Omary Obuguyu, Head of NCDs, Ministry of Health Tanzania
- The value of a mental health lens in peace responses: South Sudan’s experience – Mr. Nhial Abraham, Deputy Director for Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, South Sudan
15:45 – 16:00 | Remarks from the Leader of Government Business | Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Uganda
16:20 – 16:35 | Reading and Signing of the Kampala Declaration 2026 | Led by the Secretary General of the East African Community, with EAC Ministers of Health; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Uganda; District Local Government officials; Prisons Administrators; Dr. Omary Obuguyu, Head of NCDs, Ministry of Health Tanzania; Dr. Mukhtar Abdi Shube, Director of Public Health Department, Somalia; Dr. Bonite Havyarimana, Head of Disease Prevention and Control, Burundi; Dr. Michael Kiremeji, Emergency Care Specialist, Tanzania; and Ms. Deborah Luambano, Mental Health Coordinator, Tanzania
16:20 – 16:35 | Closing Remarks | Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Health, Uganda
16:20 – 16:35 | Press Briefing: Communicating the Regional Roadmap
16:20 – 16:35 | Fireside Chat on Mental Health and Networking
Interested in Learning More About StrongMinds?
Our Impact
See how treating depression through our group talk therapy model empowers individuals and entire communities to thrive.
Our Partnerships
Discover how collaboration with governments, NGOs, and community leaders helps us scale mental health care across Africa.
Our Advocacy
Learn how we’re shaping policy and shifting global conversations to make mental health a human right for everyone.