IPC MP Lilian Lutuhezi questioned the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) on whether systems are in place to support the mental health of social workers, given their daily exposure to trauma experienced by other individuals.

Minister Emma Kantema responded that the ministry has put several support measures in place to promote the mental well-being of social workers and strengthen their capacity to continue supporting vulnerable children effectively.

Dr. Kantema said the ministry has a dedicated budget for employee wellness, supporting activities such as team-building sessions, awareness programmes and interventions addressing mental health and workplace well-being.

She added that professionals, including psychologists and other relevant experts, are engaged to provide guidance, counselling support and practical coping strategies to staff members.

"Social workers at the regional level receive regular supportive supervision. These sessions focus on the management of complex cases. We know the task that the social workers face. Therefore, we also provide professional guidance, personal development, ethical practice, and capacity building, some of the measures to ensure that we continuously develop them and build their capacity."

The minister further acknowledged that the current measures may not be sufficient, considering the demanding nature of social work.

She said the ministry intends to develop a more structured debriefing model for social workers in the future, with clear procedures for regular psychosocial support, referrals for specialised cases and follow-up where needed.