As a law student, participating in the 11th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition organised by the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) in 2024 remains a source of immense pride for me.

Mooting can be defined in various ways, but simply put, it is the oral presentation of a legal issue or problem before a judge, contested against opposing counsel. For the CEHURD moot, it is not just any person sitting as a judge but real judicial officers from Uganda’s Judiciary – from Magistrates Courts all the way up to the Supreme Court of Uganda. This opportunity is a dream come true for any law student.

Although crafting memorials initially seemed the hardest part, I grew to love it because of the immense learning involved. It taught me how to conduct expansive legal research and the art of crafting persuasive arguments grounded in legal principles – skills that have significantly improved my drafting. With the guidance of our dedicated instructor and mentor, Mr. Mukabire Moses, we were able to submit well-researched and impressive memorials.

On 23rd October 2024, upon checking into Hotel Africana Kampala – a perk that comes with participating in the CEHURD moot, I was met with a wave of nervousness as I contemplated my oral presentation the next day. That day felt like the moment to bring everything together for a final push. Overwhelmed at times by the volume of information from extensive research, I received crucial guidance that helped me distill the most relevant legal principles and arguments. These enabled me to advocate effectively in the hypothetical case between Amani Health Lawyers Initiative and Dr. Abeni against the Attorney General of Bokomo and Sawubona Hospital. As the saying goes, success is no accident.

Winning the CEHURD moot was no accident. My teammate, Mr. Tamale Ahmad, and I worked hard, persevered, learned, studied, sacrificed, and most importantly loved what we were doing. It is no surprise that my university, my second home – the Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale campus, emerged as the best among thirteen participating universities.

Throughout the competition, I learned that thorough preparation is key to success in any contest. As a participant, you must prepare for all rounds, not just one – it is a marathon, not a sprint! I also realized that success isn’t always about your case alone; it requires flexibility and persuasiveness. You must listen closely to your opponents’ arguments and sometimes deviate from your scripted submissions while staying true to your core points.

The highlight of the competition was being announced the overall best oralist. The voice of Hon. Lady Justice Suzan Okalany still echoes in my ears as if it happened yesterday. More than the announcement itself, I was thrilled to learn that I would secure an internship with CEHURD.

In June 2025, I began my internship at CEHURD, and these past three months have been an incredible journey of exposure and learning. I have had the privilege of working alongside experienced professionals in health and the law who have mentored me and provided ongoing opportunities for growth. Through this work, I have engaged with clients and vulnerable community members who have suffered health rights violations.

I have provided legal advice and supported clients – steps toward the realization of justice. My exposure includes legal research, legal aid service provision, and advocacy for legal and policy reforms that create an enabling environment for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Uganda. I have come to understand that the right to health is often neglected in law, yet it is essential for the enjoyment of all other fundamental human rights.

Beyond this, the educational and networking benefits have been immense and indefinable. The CEHURD moot is a powerful platform where students learn that the right to health is a constitutional mandate for all Ugandans that deserves respect and protection alongside all other human rights. Central to this is SRHR – often misunderstood and disregarded, yet vitally important for everyone’s well-being.

To this day, I am deeply grateful to CEHURD for granting me an opportunity that is shaping my future in the legal profession. To the Strategic Litigation Department that works tirelessly to ensure these competitions succeed, your dedication is a testament to your love for the legal fraternity. Thank you for making my internship invaluable. I look forward to advancing the right to health for all in Uganda and beyond.

Nanyunja Shakirah
Best Oralist
11th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition winner, 2024.

“I was already on HIV treatment. When I found out I was pregnant, I was terrified. I knew I could not continue with the pregnancy, but where could I go safely?” 

This is the story of Veronica (real name withheld), a 17-year-old teenager and a mother living with HIV whose immunity is compromised due to poor feeding and no meaningful source of income. Her only option was to terminate the pregnancy.

Stories like this are now becoming common in Uganda but never spoken about. They are whispered in hospital corridors and shared quietly among young women and teenagers. For many, the ending is tragic. Unsafe abortion remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths resulting from severe complications such as sepsis and haemorrhage, among others.

Uganda records about 43 abortions for every 1,000 women of reproductive age, most of them unsafe. Behind that number are young girls afraid of being expelled from school, mothers already struggling to feed their children, and women living with HIV, TB who know that another pregnancy could compromise their immunity and livelihood.

The dangers are intensified when infectious diseases are part of the picture, because pregnancy weakens a prospective mother’s immune system, and the risk of opportunistic infections rises. And when unsafe abortions are carried out in unsterilized environments, one would be prone to imminent death. Other complications like severe bleeding or anemia further make malaria, one of Uganda’s deadliest illnesses even more dangerous for women.

Unsafe abortion ties into and is woven in the lives of young women in rural areas who pay the heaviest price considering that HIV infection rates are highest in this age category. The suffering is inescapable. Maybe access to safe and legal abortion could save countless lives like Veronica. It would keep women in HIV and TB care, reduce malaria risks, and ease the burden on hospitals that are currently overwhelmed by treating preventable complications.

Uganda has made significant progress in reducing maternal deaths, currently estimated at 189 per 100,000 live births (2022). However, this figure is still far above the SDG 3.1 target of 70 per 100,000 live births. To close this gap, government action is urgently needed to address the major causes of maternal mortality, including unsafe abortion. This requires clear provision of post-abortion care, and the expansion of the legal grounds under which abortion can be accessed.

We ought to remember that numbers tell only part of the story. Behind every number are hidden tragedies – the young woman who never makes it to the hospital in time, the mother whose children are left behind, and the girl forced to abandon her education. The spirit of the abortion law and how it is implemented has an important bearing on maternal health and teenage pregnancy and can influence reduction of the burden on healthcare system. It has the capacity to enable or disable access to safe abortion and body autonomy.

We should seek to expand grounds for safe abortion and access to SRH commodities as well as other related family planning services. The law ought to be a little clearer and unburden healthcare workers from being caught in the grey and retrogressive criminal justice system by allowing duty bearers to implement it in a manner that is tangible, accessible and fair.

Safe abortion is not just a medical service. It is dignity. It is survival. It should be part of our fight against HIV, TB, malaria, and overall preventable maternal deaths. Uganda cannot afford to lose more lives in silence and stigma. We owe our women better!

Compiled by Kitandwe Rhodine is a Health Rights champion and lawyer working with Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD); kitandwe@cehurd.org