Laying the Groundwork: Founding the Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Association of Uganda (CBTAU)

Dr. James Sebuddee and Mr. Ronald Muyomba of Therapy Uganda Associates Ltd. outlined Uganda’s mental-health landscape and the steps toward formalizing the country’s first CBT organization.

Uganda, home to over 51 million people — half under age 15 — faces high rates of depression, trauma, and substance use, with only ≈ 50 psychiatrists nationwide. Most psychological care is delivered by NGOs, community volunteers, and faith leaders, creating a vast treatment gap.

CBTAU, now in the process of legal registration, aims to:

• Establish standards and certification for CBT practitioners.
• Provide training, supervision, and continuing education.
• Develop manuals in local languages to increase accessibility.
• Advocate for integration of CBT into Uganda’s public-health system.

The team acknowledged barriers such as funding, stigma, and limited data infrastructure but expressed determination to create a sustainable, nationally recognized body.

“With support from WCCBT and our partners,” they stated, “Uganda will soon have a professional CBT association to expand access and uphold quality of care.”

Their initiative represents a vital step in WCCBT’s continental vision of ensuring every African country has a national CBT body. Dr. James Sebuddee and Mr. Ronald Muyomba also shared their appreciation for the growing collaboration between the WCCBT and African CBT leaders, describing it as an inspiring step toward building a unified regional CBT organization dedicated to advancing mental health care throughout Africa.