Mukose (not real name), a 43-year-old taxi driver on the Kampala-Mbale highway, wakes up at 3am daily to transport passengers from Mbale to Kampala, a distance of 240 kilometres that takes roughly four to five hours, depending on road conditions.
The 14-seater commuter van he drives belongs to someone else.
The owner pays him Shs30,000 per trip, amounting to Shs60,000 for two trips a day. From this amount, he has to meet all his daily expenses, including transport from his home in Nakaloke to Mbale City, breakfast, lunch and other personal needs.
He is also expected to leave at least Shs30,000 at home daily to provide for his family’s breakfast, lunch and supper.
His return trip from Kampala is usually in the evening. By the time he leaves the capital at around 5pm, heavy traffic congestion often keeps him on the road for hours.
‘I normally reach home around 11pm or midnight and have to wake up again at 2.30am to prepare for the next journey to Kampala,’ he said.
To save money, he often survives on a simple lunch of chapatti and beans, commonly known as kikomando.
Long-distance taxi drivers like Mukose face constant pressure from passengers and vehicle owners.
‘When you drive slowly, some passengers insult you for delaying them. When you increase speed, others accuse you of speeding. Very few passengers speak politely; most simply shout at you,’ he explained.
Whenever the vehicle develops a mechanical problem, the driver is blamed.
‘When the taxi breaks down, the owner insults you for failing to maintain it properly, even when the problem is beyond your control. Yet we are expected to keep the vehicle on the road every day despite the long distances and difficult working conditions,’ he said.
The stress does not end on the road. When Mukose returns home late at night, his wife sometimes accuses him of spending time with other women, yet the delays are caused by traffic jams and the demanding nature of his work.
‘By the time I reach home, the food is already cold. Sometimes I am too tired to eat it even when I am hungry. All I want is to sleep for a few hours before waking up again for the next trip,’ he said.
The taxi driver is not alone. He is among countless men for whom expressing emotional pain is one of the hardest things.
Raised to believe that strength means silence, many continue to carry stress, grief, anxiety and personal struggles in isolation-often with devastating consequences. Behind many smiling faces are untold stories of financial pressure, family responsibilities, relationship struggles and uncertainty about the future. While men are expected to be providers, protectors and problem-solvers, few are encouraged to openly discuss the mental burden that comes with these expectations.
Mental health advocates say the growing number of men experiencing emotional distress underscores the urgent need to break the culture of silence surrounding men’s mental wellbeing.
Men’s Mental Health Month is observed in June to raise awareness, reduce stigma and promote mental wellbeing among men.
‘Many men in Uganda are not simply stressed. They are carrying a whole economy on their backs. Some are formally employed but drowning in loans, while others have titles that sound powerful, yet their bank accounts are on oxygen,’ observes Dr Andrew Muyanga, a psychiatrist and chairperson of publicity at the Uganda Medical Association.
He says the pressures facing men come from many directions, including unstable income, unemployment, debt, relationship strain, family responsibilities, loneliness, alcohol and betting.
‘In many Ugandan homes, a man is expected to provide, protect, decide, pay, perform and remain calm. He must find school fees, contribute to burials, support parents, solve emergencies, maintain respect at home, appear successful in public and somehow never admit that he is tired. That expectation may look like honour from the outside. Inside the mind of a struggling man, it can become a prison with good furniture,’ he explains.
According to the State of Uganda Population Report 2025, about 24.2 percent of adults and 22.9 percent of children are affected by mental health conditions, yet fewer than one in ten people who need care receive appropriate support.
Mental health recovery coach Angela Nsimbi says rising living costs and unemployment have placed enormous pressure on men.
‘In a society where masculinity is tied to the ability to provide, joblessness becomes more than an economic challenge-it becomes an identity crisis,’ she says.
Counsellor Rebecca Chemutai says societal expectations discourage many men from expressing vulnerability or seeking help.
‘This culture of silence has created a hidden mental health crisis among men. Some turn to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms, while others become withdrawn, irritable or experience difficulties maintaining healthy relationships and meeting family and work responsibilities,’ she says.
Experts are urging families, workplaces, religious institutions and communities to create supportive environments where men can discuss their mental health without fear of stigma or judgment.
‘Early intervention remains one of the most effective ways of preventing mental health problems from escalating. By encouraging open conversations and timely support, more men can overcome emotional distress and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives,’ Ms Chemutai says.