Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi urges Butabika Hospital to integrate exercise into psychiatric rehabilitation as Watoto Ministries donates a football pitch and basketball court.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has urged Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital to integrate sporting activities into patient rehabilitation, saying physical exercise can complement medical treatment and support mental health recovery.
Baryomunsi made the remarks during the launch of a football pitch and basketball court donated by Watoto Ministries to the hospital, emphasising the importance of physical activity in the care of people receiving psychiatric treatment.
“Sporting and exercise, physical activity, is part of the healing. It is part of the therapy, more so for the patients who receive treatment in our hospital here,” Baryomunsi said.
He urged the hospital administration to ensure the facilities are properly maintained and accessible to patients, health workers and other members of the hospital community.
The minister welcomed Watoto Ministries’ contribution, describing the facilities as a valuable addition to the hospital’s efforts to improve patient care.
Baryomunsi also pledged to use the facilities, saying he intended to organise sporting activities involving members of his team, including drivers, personal assistants and police officers.
“I want to challenge the community here at Butabika, whether the workers or even the patients themselves, to organise teams, arrange a time and come here. I am going to be a member of this community,” he said.
His remarks highlighted the potential for the facilities to bring patients and health workers together through organised sporting activities.
Physical exercise can complement mental health treatment by supporting physical fitness, improving sleep, reducing stress and creating opportunities for social interaction. When incorporated into an appropriate treatment plan, it can contribute to patients’ general well-being and rehabilitation.
Pastor Isaac Rotlonyo, the lead pastor at Watoto Ministries, urged the hospital management to protect and maintain the facilities to ensure they serve their intended purpose.
Rotlonyo emphasised the importance of keeping patients and health workers physically active, calling for proper management of the football pitch and basketball court.
The facilities are expected to provide patients with additional opportunities for recreation and physical activity during treatment and rehabilitation. Their contribution will depend partly on consistent maintenance and the organisation of activities suited to patients’ individual conditions and abilities.
Sporting activities at the hospital will also need appropriate supervision and coordination with clinical teams to ensure they meet patients’ treatment needs.
The sports facilities were among four initiatives highlighted during the hospital event.
The hospital also launched its strategic plan for the 2025/2026 to 2029/2030 period, alongside its service delivery standards and clients’ charter.
Baryomunsi described the launches as significant developments for the institution, noting that the initiatives address different aspects of hospital operations and service delivery.
The strategic plan is intended to guide the hospital’s priorities over the next five years, while the service delivery standards and clients’ charter set out expectations for service provision and clarify the responsibilities of the institution and its clients.
Together, the initiatives are intended to strengthen hospital operations, improve the patient experience and support the delivery of specialised psychiatric services.
Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital provides psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services to patients from across Uganda.
Mental health recovery often involves a combination of interventions, including medication, psychological support, rehabilitation and activities that promote general well-being.
The newly launched facilities give the hospital additional infrastructure that could be incorporated into appropriate rehabilitation programmes.
Their long-term impact will depend on how effectively the hospital maintains them, makes them accessible and integrates organised physical activities into patient care.