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Facing Uganda's Law on Abortion: Experiences of women and service providers

Uganda’s law on abortion prohibits several acts and omissions relating to abortion and sets out to punish women and health workers who perform any of the prohibited acts. And yet it should also be noted that every woman has a right to make decisions relating to her reproductive health and this decision includes the right to terminate or keep a pregnancy. This right can be read into the obligation of the state to provide medical services to the population, to enable women in exercising their full reproductive and maternal functions and the exception to the right to life that prescribes the development of a law that provides for instances in which a pregnancy may be terminated.

Abortion affects girls, women, health workers, lawyers, police, and communities, with victims being particularly stigmatized. The stories and perspectives in this booklet demonstrate the need for access to safe abortion services in Uganda.

It is unfortunate that no effort has been made to take advantage of the opportunity that is presented by Article 22 (2) of the Constitution to create a law that provides specific instances in which an abortion is permitted. Despite the significant progress in the policies that relate to access to safe abortion services, the law has barely moved an inch since the Constitution of Uganda came into force.

 

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