Health experts have raised concern over the increasing number of unsafe abortions among young girls in Uganda, blaming the problem on limited access to sexual and reproductive health information, stigma, and restrictive laws.
The concerns were highlighted during an engagement with journalists organized under the Uganda Health Journalists Association, where a teenage survivor shared her experience after undergoing an unsafe abortion that nearly cost her life.
Sharon Namyalo, now 16, said she became pregnant while still in secondary school and resorted to unsafe methods to terminate the pregnancy out of fear of her parents’ reaction and social stigma.
Namyalo said she first used traditional herbs before seeking help at a clinic in Nakulabye, where she underwent an abortion procedure that later resulted in severe complications, including prolonged bleeding and abdominal pain.
She said attempts to seek further treatment from the same clinic were unsuccessful, forcing her to sell some of her school belongings to raise money for medical care at another health facility, where she eventually received post-abortion treatment and recovered.
Namyalo attributed her experience to limited access to information on sexual and reproductive health and rights, saying neither her school nor family had provided adequate guidance.
According to the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Report for the 2024/2025 financial year, abortion-related complications account for four percent of maternal deaths in Uganda, representing 189 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The report further indicates that the Busoga sub-region records one of the highest burdens, with abortion complications contributing seven percent of maternal deaths in the area.
Regina Nakubulwa, a senior midwife and nursing officer at Mulago Specialized Hospital, called for comprehensive and age-appropriate reproductive health education to help young people make informed decisions.
Nakubulwa said many adolescents rely on peers and social media for information about sexuality, exposing them to misinformation and harmful practices.
“Every age group requires specific information suited to their stage of development. What a five-year-old needs to know is different from what a teenager or young adult needs to learn,” Nakubulwa said.
She also expressed concern over the decline of youth-friendly corners in health facilities following funding cuts, saying the centres previously offered safe spaces where young people could seek guidance on reproductive health matters.
Meanwhile, Tracy Nabbaale, a legal officer at the Women’s Pro Bono Initiative, said restrictive abortion laws continue to push many women and girls toward unsafe procedures.
Nabbaale noted that although health workers are permitted to provide post-abortion care, many women still face difficulties accessing safe services due to legal uncertainty and stigma surrounding abortion.
Health experts say improving access to accurate reproductive health information, strengthening youth-friendly services, and increasing public awareness are critical in reducing unsafe abortions and preventing avoidable maternal deaths in Uganda.
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