Health officials raise alarm over rising alcohol abuse, malnutrition cases in Kigezi

What the report says

Health officials in Uganda’s Kigezi Sub-Region have warned that alcohol abuse and malnutrition are becoming a growing public health concern, according to Nile Post. The warning came during a press briefing at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital ahead of the 4th Annual Kigezi Regional Health Sector Joint Performance Review Mission, a forum used to assess service delivery across the region.

Johnson Bitungwa, the hospital’s Principal Clinician and head of the mental health unit, said many of the cases treated at the facility are linked to alcohol and substance abuse. He pointed to the spread of unregulated and illicit alcohol production and urged tighter controls on alcohol sales, including enforcement of bar opening hours. Dr Anne Marion Namutebi, an executive consultant at the hospital, said alcohol is a common factor in several conditions treated there, including mental illness, liver disease, pancreatitis, malnutrition and injuries.

Officials also said malnutrition is rising in parts of the region. Rubanda District health officer Dr David Mporampora said the problem is tied in part to households selling much of the food they produce instead of keeping enough for consumption. Local health authorities said they plan mass sensitisation campaigns, while district leaders called for local by-laws to help regulate alcohol use. Separately, the regional health review mission is scheduled to begin in Rubanda District on September 1, 2026, with the Ministry of Health expected to open the event.