Nalowooza Allen: Living through a difficult choice

8 July 2026, 7:50 pm

Byamukama Alozious

At just 18 years old, Nalowoza Allen (not real name) found herself facing an unplanned pregnancy while she was still in school. Afraid of stigma, worried about disappointing her family, and uncertain about her future, she made the difficult decision to seek an abortion. What followed was a painful and frightening experience that nearly cost her her life.

In this audio, Allen shares her personal journey, describing the barriers she faced in accessing care, the fear created by stigma, and how Uganda’s legal restrictions on abortion influenced her decisions. She also reflects on the emotional and physical consequences of her experience and why she believes young people need accurate information, compassionate counselling, and access to quality reproductive healthcare.