Abortion restrictions costing women lives in Uganda

26 April 2026, 5:30 pm

In Uganda, abortion remains illegal except under limited and poorly defined circumstances, many women are pushed into dangerous choices   which contributes to  26% of maternal deaths. The Ministry of Health estimates that about 42% of pregnancies un intended, yet access to safe reproductive services remains restricted. This investigation tells the story Aggie a mother of five who, after a failed family planning method, found herself pregnant again. Her husband aggressively forced her to seek abortion or face divorce. Miserably she okayed to abort but when she turned to a health facility, providers reportedly turned her away, leaving her with no safe options. Desperate, she resorted to local herbs an unsafe method that led to severe bleeding for nearly two weeks and almost cost her life. Her experience reflects a wider reality where stigma, restrictive laws, and cultural beliefs continue to drive women toward unsafe abortions, putting countless lives at risk. More of this story in the audio below.