Leona, the executive brain whisperer

What the report says

The Observer profiles Leona Buhenzire, a 43-year-old behavioral scientist and clinical psychologist based in Kampala, where she founded Mental Health Support Systems (MHSS) at Onomo in Nakasero. The article says her work through the Green Brain Initiative brings nervous system regulation into executive training, an approach that has brought her international attention, including a nomination at the Humanitarian Awards Global in Accra and a delegate invitation to the Forbes Africa Leading Women Summit in Johannesburg.

In the interview, Buhenzire describes MHSS as offering psychotherapy for people dealing with depression, anxiety, overwhelm, divorce and grief, alongside corporate training for organizations such as the U.S. Mission, Absa Bank and DFCU. She explains her background in community psychology and clinical psychology, and says her work focuses on how biology and environment shape behavior in workplaces facing burnout, staff retention problems and change.

The piece also highlights her views on mental health in everyday life. She argues that common workplace fixes such as spa days or retreats do not address deeper causes of stress, and she recommends simple grounding steps such as breathing, walking briefly or washing one’s face during a tense meeting. She also links burnout to reduced cognitive and physical wellbeing, saying it is often normalized in organizations even though it can have serious health effects.

More broadly, the interview presents Buhenzire as part of a growing conversation in Uganda and African workplaces about mental wellness, stigma and the role of therapy in professional settings. The article frames her as a specialist trying to move mental health from crisis response toward preventive support and performance coaching.