Kampala, Uganda — 2026-01-05 The chatbot will see you now: how AI is being trained to spot mental health issues in any language.
In Uganda, a groundbreaking project is underway at Butabika hospital in Kampala, where calls from patients seeking mental health assistance are being used to train an AI algorithm. This technology aims to create a chatbot capable of providing therapy in local African languages, addressing the significant shortage of mental health workers and the stigma associated with seeking care on the continent.
Prof Joyce Nakatumba — Nabende, the scientific head of the Makerere AI Lab at Makerere University, is leading the initiative.
The team is working in collaboration with Butabika hospital and Mirembe hospital in Dodoma, Tanzania. They are analyzing call recordings, stripped of patient-identifying information, to understand how individuals in Swahili, Luganda, and other local languages might describe mental health disorders like depression or psychosis.
The goal is to develop a chatbot that can identify potential mental health issues based on conversations, potentially escalating calls or following up with patients for further assistance. Current chatbots, Nakatumba-Nabende notes, often lack an understanding of local healthcare contexts and are typically available only in English.
The project is part of a broader effort to increase access to mental health care in regions where resources are scarce.
According to Miranda Wolpert, director of mental health for the Wellcome Trust, which is funding various AI projects globally, technology holds great promise in diagnosis and treatment. While the potential of AI in mental health is substantial, regulators are also addressing the implications of its increased use in healthcare.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and health NGO Path are working on a regulatory framework to ensure AI tools are safe and effective.
The situation remains developing, with further details expected as the project progresses.
However, the potential impact of this technology on mental health care accessibility and stigma reduction is significant.
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Source: The AI therapist will see you now: Q&A with Dr.
Ateev Mehrotra — [sph. Brown.
Edu]( Brown.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
