KABALE – The Dean of Kabale University School of Medicine, Professor James Tumwiine, has urged Teacher Education institutions to join the fight against the rising cases of stress, depression and anxiety resulting from deteriorating mental health among students.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Prof. Tumwiine made the appeal today while delivering the keynote address at the first meeting convened by the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) Council at their Kabale Campus.
The UNITE Council, responsible for accrediting and regulating teacher training institutions across Uganda, visited Kabale Campus as part of their oversight activities. The visit included campus tours and stakeholder engagements.
During one of the engagements, Prof. Tumwiine, also a former Chairperson of the Governing Council at the National Teachers College (NTC) Kabale and a former professor at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, highlighted that poor mental health is one of the most neglected challenges faced by students, especially in higher institutions. He warned that this issue is rapidly turning into a catastrophe.
Referring to his research conducted in Eastern Uganda, Prof. Tumwiine revealed that approximately 30% of students exhibited anxiety symptoms following the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also noted that other problems such as stress and depression were prevalent, leading to behavioral changes like loss of appetite and disinterest in social interactions.
His research project further revealed that alcohol and substance abuse are primary causes of stress and depression among students. Prof. Tumwiine warned that in severe cases, victims suffer liver and brain damage, while some may even resort to suicide.
”We must confront this problem head-on because substance abuse is a silent catastrophe happening within our communities,” he stated.
CUE IN …PROF. TUMWIINE ON MENTAL HEALTH.
Prof. Tumwiine also cautioned university lecturers and instructors against tolerating indiscipline and indecency among students. He argued that tolerance often results in undesirable behaviors that persist even after graduation.
”For example, we should not allow our students to attend lectures while unkempt. Today, growing beards have become fashionable, but it’s something we should not tolerate,” he remarked. “I cannot allow unkempt medical students to touch patients.”
CUE IN PROF. TUMWIINE ON DISCIPLINE.
The UNITE Vice Chancellor, Professor Betty Akullu Ezati, explained that their visit aimed to assess the progress and needs of the Kabale Campus, which transitioned from the National Teachers College (NTC), originally offering only diploma courses, to a degree-awarding institution.
She pointed out that one of the pressing challenges at the campus is the old asbestos roofing on buildings, a material linked to cancer, which requires urgent replacement.
”A program to replace the asbestos is expected to commence in the next financial year,” she announced.
CUE IN…PROF. AKULLU.
Ms. Annet Komunda, Dean of UNITE Kabale Campus, expressed optimism that the council’s visit would help address some of their challenges.
”We believe that, as UNITE Kabale Campus, we will benefit greatly from this visit, especially since the council has seen our infrastructural issues, such as the old accommodation structures with asbestos roofs,” she stated.
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The Deputy Mayor of Kabale Municipality, Ms. Kedress Mutabazi, and Kabale District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Gordon Manzi, thanked the UNITE Council for taking the time to visit the Kabale campus. They asked to stay informed about the institution’s developments and pledged to support efforts that contribute to its success.
UNITE Kabale Campus officially began transitioning from the National Teachers College in July 2024, and its first graduation ceremony is expected in 2028.
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