Depression is among the most common mental health disorders worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 5 percent of adults — more than 300 million people — live with the condition. Older adults over 60 years are especially vulnerable.
It is a leading cause of disability and a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Women are generally affected at higher rates than men.
In Uganda, the problem is acute. Researchers have studied depression among a wide range of groups — people living with HIV, women, cancer patients, caregivers, students — to understand its reach and to test possible interventions. To do this, clinicians have used several tools, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Akena Visual Depression Inventory, and others.
Uganda’s history and current conditions add to the risk. The country has faced civil wars, widespread poverty, high HIV infection rates, Ebola outbreaks, and limited mental health services. As one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, Uganda also carries the strain of displacement and trauma. These overlapping pressures leave many Ugandans vulnerable to depression.
Studies have found high levels of depression in many groups: women, children, students, refugees, and people living with HIV. Some report prevalence rates of more than 70 percent.
To bring together existing findings, researchers have conducted systematic reviews, especially focusing on HIV populations. But a full synthesis across all groups has been missing until recently.
A large study published by PLOS analyzed 127 papers, covering 123,859 individuals from 45 districts between 2000 and 2021. The findings were stark: nearly one in three Ugandans lives with depression. Refugees were the most affected.
Most of the research took place in Kampala, Mbarara, and Gulu. People living with HIV made up about a third of the studies. Overall, the pooled prevalence was 30.2 percent. Rates were even higher during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 29.3 percent before the pandemic to 48.1 percent during it.
Refugees showed the highest prevalence at about 68 percent. War victims followed at 36 percent, people with HIV at 28 percent, postpartum and pregnant mothers at 26.9 percent, university students at 26.9 percent, children and adolescents at 23.6 percent, and caregivers at 18.5 percent.
The symptoms of depression are wide-ranging. The most common is persistent low mood — sadness, irritability, or emptiness — or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, lasting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.
Other symptoms include poor concentration, guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, changes in sleep or appetite, and fatigue. Depression can lead to suicide, which is why doctors recommend screening all patients for suicidal ideation. Research shows that asking about suicide does not increase the risk of attempts.
Though effective treatments exist for mild to severe depression, access remains uneven. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75 percent of people with depression receive no treatment.
