New students have been urged to make intentional choices about friendships and prioritize their mental well-being as they begin their academic journey. Addressing freshers on February 11, 2026, Ms. Jamira Nantale, a counsellor at Munaange Counselling Center, cautioned that while friendships are essential for survival on campus, they can also shape or shatter a student’s future.
She explained that many students struggle emotionally and academically due to negative peer influence, noting that campus life often begins with strangers sharing rooms and social spaces. “You meet people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and behaviours. You come with your own agenda, they come with theirs, and sometimes you end up living someone else’s life instead of your own,” she said.
“Society tells you to make many friends because these are the connections you may need later, and that is true,” Ms. Nantale said. “But the same friends can either make you or break you. Be very intentional about the people you allow into your life.”
Ms. Nantale emphasized that friendships are central to campus life because “no one survives alone,” but warned that wrong associations can lead to destructive habits, including substance and alcohol abuse. “We have seen young people fall into addiction because of peer pressure, and when things get difficult, those same friends disappear,” she said. “Protect your mental health. Anything that harms it is not worth keeping.”
Drawing from counselling experience, she narrated the story of a first-year student who changed five academic programs within a year under the influence of peers, only to later rediscover his true calling after professional guidance. “Voices will always come, people will always advise, but if you know why you are here and stay focused, you will succeed,” she said.
The counsellor also highlighted the high exposure students face in vibrant urban environments, which she said demands discipline and self-awareness. She urged freshers to remain focused on their academic mission despite social and financial temptations around them.
Ms. Nantale used the session to introduce the services offered by her Munaange Counselling Center, including individual therapy, group counselling, mental health awareness programs, community outreach, and internship opportunities for students interested in social work and psychosocial support. She also revealed plans for a peer-to-peer mentorship initiative aimed at equipping selected students to promote mental health awareness within their respective faculties.
“We are few as counsellors, so we want to train student ambassadors who can extend the mental health message to their colleagues,” she said, adding that the centre will intensify activities during the annual Mental Health Awareness Month in October.
University counselling services in Uganda have increasingly expanded over the past decade in response to rising concerns about student stress, depression, and substance abuse. Institutions have since integrated psychosocial support into orientation programs to help learners adjust to academic and social pressures.
