Jim's Story

Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope / Mental Health Issues
Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope was a smart, popular, and fun student through high school and college. In the beginning of his freshman year at collage, he started struggling with depression and psychosis, but concealed his symptoms from everyone around him for four years. His underlying depression was left untreated and only worsened as he continued to hide his distress from his friends and his family. The depression had created a space for him where he felt like he was the only one, that all of it was his fault. In the middle of his second year, he began receiving treatment for what was later diagnosed as schizophrenia disorder a side effect of drug addiction – Marijuana (cannabis) for recreational purposes.

Although Prince Jim had received excellent mental health care at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital a government hospital, his mental case required an intensive continued recovery process and he was in and out of the hospital on many occasions. At his death Prince Jim Shepherd also fell ill from a bacterial an infection which triggered his asthmatic condition causing shortness of breath. He died peacefully at our home on September 20th, 2023 twelve days after becoming ill. He was only 28 years old but during those 28 years Prince Jim Shepherd brought immense joy and pleasure to us as family, and everyone else who was fortunate enough to know him.

Prince Jim Shepherd had a lovely sense of humour despite his mental breakdown, and a cheeky, endearing smile. He was exceptionally kind and gentle with everybody. His curiosity knew no bounds and he relished life and beside his dream to become a computer software developer, Prince Jim Nadiope also had a passion for football and was looking forward to becoming a soccer champion at some point in life.

As his family, we know Prince Jim Shepherd was not perfect but we will always be glad we have the other side of his life the wonderful and precious memories of our time together as a family.

Prince Jim Shepherd’s short life has touched so many of his peers and friends in Uganda and beyond. We are keen to ensure that his life continues to benefit others. It’s against this background that Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope Foundation has been birthed to “Celebrating the Life and legacy of Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope through the provision of holistic, and wellness focused services that promote lasting positive changes to improve mental wellbeing, social-emotional development, prevent development of mental health challenges, social economic wellbeing and address social-emotional problems that currently exist”

“Celebrating the Life and legacy of Prince Jim Shepherd Nadiope means to help people whose lives are affected by mental health conditions in Uganda through provision of accessible and affordable mental health services”