Uganda's Butabika Hospital Takes Over Addiction Clinic

A critical addiction treatment program in Uganda just got a lifeline from an unexpected source: the government itself.

Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital in Kampala has taken over a program that helps people overcome opioid addiction through Medically Assisted Therapy. The service uses medicines like methadone and buprenorphine to manage addiction and had been run by nonprofit Reach Out Mbuya since 2020 with U.S. government funding.

When that funding dried up last year, the future looked uncertain for 928 enrolled patients. Many of them had already transformed their lives through the program, with more than 300 stopping injection drug use entirely and dramatically lowering their HIV risk.

James Wanyama from Reach Out Mbuya says demand for the service keeps growing, with over 100 people seeking treatment daily. The need is real: surveys found nearly 6,000 injection drug users across identified hotspots in Kampala alone by 2020, up from earlier estimates of fewer than 4,000.

Dr. Juliet Nakku, Butabika Hospital's Executive Director, announced the program will now be integrated into the hospital's alcohol and drug treatment unit. The move ensures patients won't lose access to their daily medications, which must be carefully administered under medical supervision.

The Ripple Effect

This handover represents more than bureaucratic shuffling. It signals Uganda's commitment to treating addiction as a health issue deserving government support, not just charity.

The success stories speak volumes: hundreds of former drug users have rebuilt their social and economic lives after getting stable treatment. By reducing injection drug use, the program also cuts HIV transmission rates in vulnerable communities.

However, challenges remain beyond Kampala. A similar clinic at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital faces potential collapse after the same funding cuts forced staff terminations in January 2025. Of 104 patients enrolled there, some have already relapsed without continued treatment access.

Dr. David Masaba, who heads psychiatry at Mbale, stresses that sustaining these programs requires trained personnel who understand controlled substance protocols. Dr. Nakku echoes this concern, noting the high costs of medications and year-round daily service delivery.

The government now faces the task of calculating per-patient costs and recruiting specialized staff to expand services nationwide. But for now, nearly a thousand people in Kampala can rest easier knowing their treatment will continue without interruption.