Nwoya gets drug rehabilitation centre to fight rising addiction cases

________________

NWOYA - Nwoya district has inaugurated its first rehabilitation facility for people struggling with drug and substance addiction, marking a step toward addressing mental health and addiction challenges in the region.

The 20-bed Rapp’s Foundation Addiction Treatment Centre at Ceke Cell on Rwot Lugaza Road in Anaka sub-county was officially commissioned over the weekend. The facility becomes one of only two drug rehabilitation centres in the Acholi region, alongside the Programme for Prevention, Awareness, Counselling, and Treatment of Alcoholism/Addictive Illnesses (PACTA) in Gulu city.

The centre was founded by Degracious Opiyo, who battled a severe addiction in 2019 before finding recovery through PACTA. His personal journey inspired him to create a safe space for others facing similar struggles.

“Our mission is to empower individuals to overcome addiction and achieve long-term recovery,” Opiyo said during the launch.

“We provide evidence-based treatment tailored to each person’s needs, creating a supportive, non-judgmental environment that encourages healing and resilience.”

According to Emanuel Oryem, the foundation’s spokesperson and a recovered addict, the facility will not only provide rehabilitation services but also engage in awareness creation, counselling, aftercare and reintegration, training and policy advocacy. It also plans to offer vocational and life skills training to help recovering individuals reintegrate into society and achieve self-reliance.

Opiyo noted that the centre has already recruited qualified personnel, including counsellors and mental health specialists. He added that while the facility will charge a service fee to ensure sustainability, the rates have not yet been disclosed.

The Rev. Fr. Samuel Mwaka Okidi, the director of PACTA Uganda and the chairperson of Rapp’s Foundation’s board, said PACTA has been overwhelmed by the growing number of people seeking rehabilitation. 

“The new centre will help ease the burden by taking on some of our clients,” he said.

During the event, Ker Kwaro Acholi youth and culture minister Stella Kijange Lajiri linked the rising cases of substance abuse to the lingering psychological effects of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war, which left many survivors struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Opiyo appealed to the Government to strengthen the regulation of alcohol and other addictive substances, noting that youth are the most affected. 

“I started drinking due to peer pressure,” he said. 

“Many young people in our communities need guidance and support to become productive citizens.”

Despite the Government’s efforts, such as the Tobacco Control Act of 2015, which regulates the sale and consumption of tobacco, enforcement remains weak. Public smoking and daytime drinking continue to be widespread across the country.

A health ministry surveillance report shows that between 2010 and 2014, over 85,000 cases of drug and alcohol abuse were recorded nationwide. Of these, 57,000 were alcohol-related, while 27,000 involved other substances.

Commonly abused substances include alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), khat (mairungi), and tobacco, with emerging trends indicating increased use of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and certain prescription drugs such as pethidine and ephedrine.

Regionally, the central region leads in substance abuse at 39%, followed by the northern region at 24.2%, the eastern region at 20%, and the western region at 17%.

With the launch of the Rapp’s Foundation Addiction Treatment Centre, Nwoya District hopes to provide a lifeline to those battling addiction and promote healthier, more resilient communities in northern Uganda.