By Jumah Kakomo
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Coalition to Stop Maternal Mortality due to Unsafe Abortion (CSMMUA) are calling on the Ugandan government to implement urgent legal and health reforms to protect women and girls from unsafe abortions.
Their renewed appeal follows an investigative article published by Daily Monitor on Monday, July 7, 2025, titled “Shadowy Brokers Fuel Unsafe Abortion Clinics”, which exposed the underground networks facilitating unsafe abortion practices across the country.
CSMMUA expressed deep concern that unsafe abortions remain a major contributor to maternal deaths in Uganda, calling it a pressing public health crisis. Due to restrictive abortion laws, many women—especially young, poor, and vulnerable girls are driven to seek unsafe procedures that often result in serious complications or death.
Faith Nantongo, an advocate with CSMMUA, said Uganda sees an estimated 354,000 abortions annually, the majority of which are unsafe.
“This number could be even higher, as many women avoid health facilities out of fear of stigma and criminalisation,” she added.
Nantongo cited the 2024 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, which recorded 12,317 defilement cases, including 12,009 girls aged 0–17, and 1,447 under the age of 8. She emphasized that sexual violence often perpetrated by parents, guardians, and teachers leads to unwanted pregnancies and pushes girls toward unsafe abortions.
Rose Wakikona, Deputy Executive Director of the Women’s Probono Initiative, added:
“Sexual assault, rape, defilement, and incest are key drivers of unintended pregnancies. One in four Ugandan girls aged 15–19 is either pregnant or has given birth.”
Despite post-abortion care being a lifesaving and legally permissible service, Edith Sifuna, CSMMUA Coordinator, said many health workers hesitate to offer it for fear of legal consequences and ambiguous laws.
Professor Dan Kaye of Makerere University noted that Uganda’s legal framework violates the rights of women and girls, undermining their health, dignity, and right to life, rights protected under both national and international obligations.
Key Demands by the Coalition:
- Reform the Penal Code Act to decriminalize abortion in line with public health needs and human rights commitments.
- Implement findings from local studies on teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health.
- Strengthen access to post-abortion care in accordance with national health guidelines.
- Urgently review Sections 130, 131, and 132 of the Penal Code to align with constitutional and international human rights standards.
CSMMUA reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for policies that ensure no woman or girl in Uganda suffers or dies due to unsafe abortion.
