Ugandan counsellor calls for greater awareness on responsible gaming
According to Counsellor Musenero, individuals suffering from gambling addiction are more likely to experience mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder.
Uganda.- The increasing popularity of gambling across Uganda has raised growing concerns about its impact on mental health and social well-being. Counsellor and mental health advocate Ivan Musenero is urging for greater awareness around responsible gaming, warning that a lack of understanding can expose players to a range of psychological and social risks, including addiction and cross-addiction.
Speaking in a recent discussion on the implications of problem gambling, Musenero stressed that responsible gaming is not just a personal issue, but a public health concern that requires broader attention. According to him, individuals suffering from gambling addiction are more likely to experience mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder.
Musenero emphasised the need to protect citizens from the wide-ranging and often severe consequences of gambling addiction, noting that the impact frequently goes beyond gambling itself. He pointed out that individuals battling addiction may develop additional harmful habits, such as excessive alcohol consumption.
Musenero said: “Responsible gaming matters because citizens need to be protected from the adverse effects of gambling addiction. These effects are many and often severe”.
He further explained that this pattern, known as cross-addiction, often sees individuals transitioning from gambling to excessive alcohol use or engaging in other harmful behaviours.
Musenero underscored the importance of education and awareness as essential tools for prevention, saying that an informed gambler is a responsible gambler. He suggests that empowering individuals with knowledge about gaming risks is one of the most effective ways to promote safer practices.
As gambling continues to grow across various African markets, experts like Musenero are calling on stakeholders, including regulators, operators and civil society, to prioritise responsible gaming campaigns to safeguard the well-being of communities.
