UGANDA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LINK

PRESS RELEASE
RE: Alcohol and COVID-19; Two pandemics colliding 

Introduction:
 In Uganda we have seen a spike and unprecedented levels of drinking leading to increase in domestic violence and addiction levels. Some men are spending more time drinking and hence diverting money meant for food to buying alcohol.
Facts about alcohol in relation to COVID 19
a) Consuming high-strength alcohol does not kill the COVID-19 virus. If adulterated with methanol, can result in severe health consequences, including death.
b) Alcohol is not a food stuff
c) Alcohol is not an...

This free webinar-based training course on Motivational Interviewing (MI) is presented by Igor Koutsenok, MD, MS, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry.

Motivational Interviewing is an essential, client-centered, counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. We are absolutely thrilled to bring you this skills-building opportunity presented by a recognized expert in the field of MI.

The course consists of four sessions (originally held during June 2020).

Course Description

This is a...

The Smart Club Contract Concept: An Evidence-Based Primary Prevention Method for Children in East Africa

by Lubega Andrew (UYDEL)

The Contract Concept is a means or tools for children and adolescents to lead better lives with Human Rights, better school attendance and results and growing up without the burden of alcohol/drugs and other substances.

SMART’s contract method is locally based and includes components such as

• individual contracts with participating children / adolescents
• guardian's written approval
• temporary membership
• voluntarily to be a member (or abstain) and the right to...

The Church of Uganda has instituted a programme that will help young people to protect themselves from alcoholism and drug abuse. The programme Drug Free Schools was launched by the outgoing Arch Bishop , the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, at Mengo  Senior School on Saturday the 15th of February 2020. Speaking to students, teachers and partners that graced the function, Ntagali said that drug abuse among young people in schools was on rise, which was why the Church had decided to act against the vice.

The Coordinator of the Church of Uganda ‘Drug –Free Schools’ Programme, Ezra Tumuhirwe, said the...

THE WORLD FEDERATION AGAINST DRUGS’ REGIONAL FORUM TO BE HELD ON 6th FEBRUARY, 2020

The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) is holding this year’s first Regional Forum in the East African Region. The Forum will be taking place on the 6th of February, 2019 in Kampala Uganda and it will be hosted by Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL). WFAD has over 40 member organizations in the East-African Region, who all do fantastic work within prevention, drug addiction treatment and/or recovery and this is why the forum was hosted in East Africa. The World Federation Against Drugs is a multilateral...

AFRICAN NATIONAL CHAPTERS DIGITAL MEETING

The Zoom meeting was hosted by Jeff Lee who invited the African National Chapters to be part of the meeting. The meeting was held on Tue Jan 14, 2020 2pm – 3pm (EAT). Uganda National Chapter was represented by Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) i.e. Mr. Rogers Mutaawe, Mr. Andrew Lubega and Ms. Barbara Nakijoba.

Issues discussed included;

1. Review of minutes from last meeting and the future process
2. Updates on African Regional NC Activity (please provide a brief input on your activity or any issues, questions you may have on your operation as a...

A preparatory meeting was held on 29th November 2019 at UYDEL office and they discussed about recruitment of members, updating of Uganda ISSUP website, the work plan for 2020, Launch of the ISSUP Chapter in April 2020 and future plans. The meeting also agreed to hold an initial meeting with identified members on 12th of December 2019 to get more input from members on the best way to run the ISSUP Chapter.

Compiled by Andrew Lubega

La consommation de substances psychoactives et les troubles liés à l’utilisation de substances psychoactives (TUS) continuent d’être des problèmes majeurs dans le monde entier, ayant des répercussions sur la santé mondiale et sur le fonctionnement social et économique. L’Office des Nations Unies contre la drogue et le crime (ONUDC) rapporte qu’en 2015, environ 250 millions de personnes âgées de 15 à 64 ans ont consommé des substances illicites au moins une fois. Parmi ceux qui consomment des substances psychoactives, un nombre important développera des problèmes de consommation de...