Kampala, 4th September 2026 - “I am okay” does not always mean someone is okay.

The Executive Secretary of the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB), Onesmus Oyesigye (CPA), has called for greater attention to the mental and physical well-being of staff, noting that changes in a colleague’s behaviour may sometimes point to challenges that are not immediately visible.

He observed that when a staff member who would ordinarily be reserved begins talking excessively, for instance, it could be a sign that the individual is dealing with an underlying mental health challenge. He stressed the importance of looking beyond outward behaviour and creating an environment where staff can be supported rather than judged.

Oyesigye said Management has therefore deemed it necessary to organise mental health talks as often as possible, as part of its commitment to safeguarding the health, wellbeing and overall welfare of staff. The initiative, he noted, is intended to encourage staff to pay attention to their own wellbeing while also becoming more conscious of the signs that colleagues may be struggling.

The remarks were made during the Secretariat’s Prayer Breakfast held today, 4th September 2026, where staff were encouraged to pay greater attention to their mental and physical wellbeing. The session, led by Ms. Wako Purity, a nutritionist, coach, and Chief Executive Officer of Kwera Bits, used the analogy of an “invisible backpack” to describe the emotional and mental burdens people carry that may not always be visible to those around them.

“What are you carrying around in your invisible backpack?” Ms Wako asked staff, challenging them to reflect on the pressures, disappointments, responsibilities, and experiences they may be carrying silently. She noted that people respond to stress differently. While some may become withdrawn, others may scream, become irritable, overeat, isolate themselves, or experience changes in their usual behaviour. However, she cautioned that these responses should not simply be dismissed as bad behaviour.

Ms. Wako reminded staff that the body often communicates warning signs before it reaches a point of breakdown. She emphasised that prolonged stress can affect sleep, eating habits, emotions and general physical wellbeing, noting that mental and physical health are closely connected.

She encouraged staff to listen to their bodies and recognise when they need to slow down and rest. “Once the body shuts down, work will always go on,” was part of her message, reminding staff that organisations and responsibilities continue, but an individual's health must not be sacrificed in the process. She encouraged staff to be intentional about rest, watch what they eat, and find trusted people with whom they can share and relate.

The session also challenged the notion that helping someone through a difficult period is the sole responsibility of psychologists or professional counsellors. Ms. Wako encouraged staff to cultivate kindness and empathy towards colleagues, noting that people often do not speak about what they are going through because they fear being judged.

She urged staff to understand people rather than trying to change them, recognising that individuals respond to situations differently. “You cannot change the behaviour of your colleagues, but you can change how you react to them,” she told the staff. The message was a reminder that a supportive workplace can begin with something as simple as listening without judgement, showing kindness and creating an environment where people feel safe enough to speak.

Ms.Wako further challenged staff to reflect on their purpose and contribution within the institution. She encouraged UVTAB staff to ask themselves important questions: “Why am I in this particular office? What am I contributing to the organisation? Am I adding value?” Understanding one's purpose, she explained, can help provide clarity and reduce unnecessary stress.

She also emphasised the importance of setting boundaries and knowing when to stop. For a workforce operating in an environment that demands commitment, precision and continuous delivery, the ability to recognise personal limits is essential to maintaining sustainable performance.

She reminded staff that mental health should not be understood only through the lens of sickness or mental illness. “Mental health is not necessarily sickness or madness, but all that you go through is connected to how your mental health works,” she said.

Her message placed mental wellbeing within the broader realities of everyday life, from workplace pressures and relationships to sleep, eating habits, stress and how people respond to challenges. She called upon institutions to strengthen mechanisms that support the wellbeing of their staff and help individuals identify and build on their strengths.

Today’s Prayer Breakfast ultimately became more than a moment of prayer and reflection. It offered UVTAB staff an opportunity to look inward and consider the invisible burdens that colleagues, and indeed each individual, may be carrying.

As UVTAB continues to deliver on its mandate of developing and managing employer-led TVET curricula, assessing and certifying skills, and contributing to Uganda’s skills development agenda, the wellbeing of the people behind that work remains equally important. Sometimes, the most important thing a colleague needs is not a solution, but someone willing to listen. Because behind every desk, every assignment, and every professional role is a human being, and every human being carries an invisible backpack.

Your health matters. Your mental health matters. And it is okay to put the backpack down and rest.

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