Abortion in Uganda: All You Need to Know

Map of Uganda highlighting abortion laws and services with icons representing healthcare, legal status, and costs.

In Uganda, like in many countries around the world, abortion remains a highly controversial issue. Due to limited access to safe and legal options, many women resort to unsafe abortion practices. The Ugandan Ministry of Health reported that in 2018, 5.3% of all maternal deaths were due to complications from unsafe abortions. The high rate of unintended pregnancies, driven by limited access to contraception, exacerbates the situation. More than half of all pregnancies in Uganda are unintended and nearly a third of these end in abortion.

In this blog, we take an in-depth look into abortion in Uganda to understand the landscape and propose recommendations to those seeking abortions.

Legal Status

Abortion in Uganda is predominantly illegal, permitted only under specific exceptional circumstances. According to Article 22(2) of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution, the right to terminate a pregnancy is denied, reflecting the country’s stringent stance on abortion. This is further reinforced by the 2007 amendment to the Penal Code Act, which imposes life imprisonment on medical practitioners found guilty of performing abortions.
However, the 2006 National Policy Guidelines and Service Standards for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights provide limited allowances for pregnancy termination. Under these guidelines, abortion is permissible in instances of fetal anomaly, rape, incest, or if the woman is HIV positive.

Costs

The costs associated with abortion in Uganda vary widely depending on who is performing it. For example, since abortion is legally restricted in most cases, even skilled providers have to operate clandestinely, which often compromises the safety of the procedures and leads to high service costs.
According to a recent news report, private clinics charge exorbitant fees ranging from $103 to $155. A study from 2003 stated that clandestine abortions performed by doctors ranged from $25 to $88, while those performed by nurses or midwives cost between $14 and $31. Traditional healers charged between $12 and $34, and self-induced abortions cost between $4 and $14.

In addition to the cost incurred by abortion seekers, abortion – especially unsafe abortion – also leads to other costs, such as those associated with treating complications. According to a 2013 study, the health-care system in Uganda recorded nearly $130 per patient in 2009 for treating complications from unsafe abortions – with total annual costs estimated at $14 million.

Service Providers

Abortion services in Uganda are delivered by a range of health-care providers, including doctors, midwives, nurses, and clinical officers. Some individuals also seek abortion services from traditional healers; however, they are not recognized or regulated by the medical community and their methods can lead to serious health complications.

Due to the legal restrictions and fear of prosecution, many health-care providers are reluctant to perform abortions, even in legally permissible circumstances. This reluctance leads women to seek unsafe and clandestine services, often with dangerous consequences.

Fortunately, there are organizations in Uganda that provide abortion information and post-abortion care services to women in need. These organizations play a big role in ensuring that women receive the care and support they require when getting an abortion.

  • Marie Stopes Uganda provides post-abortion care services, including treatment of complications and contraception.
  • Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) offers comprehensive post-abortion care services, including counseling, treatment of complications, and contraception.
  • Aunt Kaki-COHERIENT offers post-abortion care services, including counseling, treatment of complications, and contraception, in addition to safe abortion services and HIV/AIDS care.
  • The Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF) is a global program that supports local organizations to improve access to safe abortion services. In Uganda, SAAF works with local training providers to build the capacity of health-care professionals to provide safe abortion and post-abortion care services.
  • DKT International partners with various clinics across Uganda to provide post-abortion care services and increase access to safe abortion options.
  • safe2choose.org, an online counseling and informational platform, partners with trained and verified providers in Uganda. These providers offer post-abortion care services to women at an affordable cost.

Recent Developments

Efforts to make abortion legal in Uganda have been ongoing, spearheaded by various local and international organizations committed to women’s rights and health. At the same time, there are cultural and religious institutions that resist such efforts. Some recent developments in this regard include:

In 2017 and 2020: Local groups, like the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) and the Human Rights Awareness and Promotional Forum (HRAPF), filed cases before the constitutional court seeking the decriminalization of abortion. The cases were consolidated and are pending a verdict.

In 2020: Uganda, along with six other countries, signed a nonbinding international anti-abortion declaration to counter a UN declaration of abortion as a human right. This declaration contradicts the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol, adopted by the African Union in 2003.

In 2022: The Women’s Pro Bono Initiative filed a case with the East African Court of Justice, a treaty-based regional body, seeking an order for the Ugandan government to reinstate the abortion policy guidelines that were withdrawn in January 2016 due to political and religious pressure.

Recommendations

If you are seeking an abortion in Uganda, it is important to first know your rights by familiarizing yourself with the country’s abortion laws and specific circumstances under which abortion is legally permitted. Seeking accurate information early is essential; consult a health-care provider as soon as possible to understand your options. Timing is important, so if you choose to move forward, it’s advisable to act without delay as legal and medical options may become more limited as the pregnancy advances.

Always choose safe options. If there are health-care clinics near you, seek services from trained medical professionals in proper health-care facilities to minimize the risks. If that is not a possibility, look for reliable abortion pill providers; you can safely use abortion pills at home. Regardless of which option you go with, consider post-abortion care to manage any potential complications and get contraceptive counseling.

If you have any questions or need further information, contact us at info@safe2choose.org. We understand that abortion is an important health-care decision, and we’re here to provide the support and information you may need. Our medically-trained counselors are available from Monday to Friday to answer your questions. They speak over 10 languages, including English, Spanish, and Kiswahili, and are located in different parts of the world, which enables them to provide culturally relevant advice.