Jackie Chandiru opens up about depression and drugs

Jackie was rumoured to be a drug addict. Her addiction started with the abuse of Pethidine, a drug that was given to her to ease the pain when she got her back injured in an accident.

In 2020, she was taken to Naguru Hospital and Bunamwaya Rehabilitation Centre for treatment, before she was flown out to Kenya as there was no improvement in her health.

While on a radio interview, Jackie said she went through a lot after the accident that damaged her back. This accident got her so depressed that she turned to abuse drugs.

“Depression is real and can kill although very few people in Uganda are well informed about it.” Jackie said.

“Many people are ignorant about it and think it’s a foreign problem but it can make you do dangerous things and make weird decisions,” she added.

Depression and the drug addiction with conditions that come along with them led her to have an unstable music career and a deteriorating health for a couple of years.

She also revealed the tough conditions she faced when she was taken to rehab because of the declining health that left her and her family members in shock.

“Never did I feel comfortable when I was taken to the rehabilitation center and on my way, I insulted the people that were around me. A few days in the rehabilitation centre, I escaped though they searched for me and I was taken back,” said Jackie Chandiru.

All the time she was going through this, Jackie said she had a suicide plan but because of different situations which she dropped later after thinking twice about life and waking up to reality.

Jackie returned to Uganda later last year and has been working trying to get back on top of her musical career with the help of her fellow musician Lillian Mbabazi with whom they worked together in the days of the Blu 3 group.