Martin Opiyo’s leadership in global mental health was forged in Northern Uganda, where he survived civil war as a child displaced into an IDP camp, later living on the street, losing relatives to the conflict, and enduring a family unit torn apart. In its aftermath, he battled suicidal ideation rooted in post-traumatic stress. His search for recovery became the foundation of his life’s work: building the infrastructure he once needed himself.

That conviction led him to found Stress Clinic Uganda, which he built from the grassroots into a national advocacy force, culminating in a Memorandum of Understanding with the Parliament of Uganda through its Forum on Mental Health.

Beyond mental health, Martin is a strategic humanitarian and development leader with over 10 years of experience in area-level programme coordination and field operations across refugee settlements and fragile, conflict-affected contexts in Uganda, including Rhino Camp and Palabek Refugee Settlements, leading multi- sector programmes in protection, education, livelihoods, climate change, WASH, health, and psychosocial support.

He now serves as Africa Representative and Board Member of the Global Mental Health Action Network, Country Director (Uganda) for the East African Community Mental Health Network, and, as a volunteer, Deputy Director of Partnerships at Speak Now (US).

His trajectory has earned recognition including the African Humanitarian Award (HEXA Media, 2024), UNFPA’s Outstanding Innovation Award for the ADILE model (2026), and Stress Clinic Uganda’s naming as Best Community Mental Health and Integrated Development Organization in East Africa (MEA Markets, 2026).

Martin’s long-term vision: positioning mental health as foundational infrastructure within development systems, particularly in contexts of fragility, inequality, and displacement.