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Abortion Laws in Uganda
Introduction
“Abortion is legal in Uganda in limited circumstances, yet approximately 85,000 women each year receive treatment for complications from unsafe abortion and an additional 65,000 women experience complications but do not seek medical treatment.”i Abortion pills can be purchased from pharmacies with a prescription and surgical abortions are also available in Uganda. Legal abortion with pills in Uganda will generally costs between 20,000 and 80,000 Ugandan shillings.
Is abortion legal in Uganda?
Abortion is legal in Uganda if it is done to save a woman’s. Article 22 (2) of the Ugandan Constitution prohibits the deprivation of the life of any person including an unborn child but also states that in some instances a pregnancy can be lawfully terminated. In addition, the 2006 National Policy Guidelines and Service Standards for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights extends legal rights to abortion under additional circumstances; including in cases of fetal anomaly, rape and incest, or if the woman is HIV-positive.ii
However, Uganda law on abortion has some ambiguities. Despite the above mentioned provisions, the Penal Code Act of 1950 defines the punishments for the various abortion related crimes. These include attempts to procure abortion, women with intent to procure a miscarriage, and supply of drugs that procure abortion. These are punishable according to law with various sentences. The law however protects individuals who perform a surgical operation in good faith and reasonable care for the preservation of a mother’s life (Section 224). Therefore, Article 22 (2) of the Ugandan constitution not only anticipated but also placed an obligation on the Ugandan Parliament to make a law which would clearly stipulate the circumstances under which the termination of a pregnancy would be permitted.iii
Unfortunately the Parliament has not yet fulfilled this obligation and as such, the Penal Code Act of Uganda, which provides for criminal sanctions to several aspects of abortion, remains the only authority on instances in which abortion can or cannot be permitted.
What are the different abortion services available in Uganda?
Uganda provides both medical and surgical abortion services. For medical abortion (MA), a combination of two drugs, Mifepristone and Misoprostol is used. Surgical procedures that are available are Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) and Dilation and Evacuation (D&E).
- Medical Abortion (MA) by pill for pregnancies up to 12 weeks
- Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) for pregnancies up to 14 weeks
- Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) for up to 24weeks (NB: Usually performed 15- 24 weeks)
Post abortion care is legal and available in public and private health facilities across Uganda.iv
Who can perform abortion services in Uganda?
In Uganda, a legal abortion can be performed by:
- Obstetrician-gynecologists
- Medical doctors(General Practitioners)
- Trained clinical officers
- Midwives
- General nursesv
Where can i go for legal abortion services in Uganda?
Safe and legal abortions can be performed in Uganda at registered public and private health facilities and at certain NGO supported clinics.
Most general hospitals and health facilities provide post abortion services for induced and spontaneous abortions in order to treat the complications of unsafe abortions.
What is the cost of a safe abortion in Uganda?
The price of an abortion in Uganda depends on the type of abortion as well as the provider. Abortion with pills can cost anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 Ugandan shillings (Misoprostol only) and 50,000 to 80,000(Mifepristone and Misoprostol) Ugandan shillings. Surgical abortion procedures can cost between 80,000 and 300, 000 Ugandan shillings.
Which abortion pills are available in Uganda?
There are two types of abortion pills available in Uganda
- A combination of Misoprostol and Mifepristone is available under the brand names: MA Kare, Divabo and Mariprist.
- Misoprostol alone under brand names like Miso Kare ,Cytotec, Misoclear and Kontrac, and misoprost
Mifepristone is a drug that blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue. MA Kare is an example of a brand name for a drug that combines both misoprostol and mifepristone. Misoprostol can be used after mifepristone to encourage a complete medical abortion. Miso Kare brand is an example of a type of pill that contains only Misoprostol. We have more information on misoprostol and mifepristone usage here.
Where can I buy abortion pills in Uganda?
Misoprostol and/or the combination of Misoprostol and Mifepristone can be bought from pharmacies in Uganda; however, an accompanying prescription is required. Prices will vary between pharmacies.
Note: Many pharmacists do sell the pills without a prescription; however they do not often provide proper instructions on eligibility, dosage and usage for a medical abortion. Please refer to the following page on our website for comprehensive instructions on how to use the abortion pill: https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/howto/
What do the abortion pills look like in Uganda?
Below are the most common brand names for abortion pills in Uganda.
This is how Ma Kare abortion pills look like

This is what Mariprist abortion pills looks like

This is what Divabo abortion pills looks like

This is what the Miso-kare abortion pills look like

This is what Cytotec abortion pills look like

This is what the Misoclear abortion pills look like

This is what the misoprost abortion pills look like

This is what the Kontrac abortion pills look like

Who can I contact for additional safe abortion and post abortion care information and support in Uganda?
- Marie Stopes Uganda Contraception, post abortion care and pain management, affordable at all Health facilities under Marie stopes
- Reproductive Health Uganda Contraception, post abortion care and pain management, affordable at all Health facilities under Reproductive Health Uganda
- Uganda Reproductive Health Bureu Contraception, post abortion care and pain management, affordable at all Health facilities under URHB. URHB was registered with the mandate to improve the sexual and reproductive health status of young people and children.
- Naguru Teenage Centre The care provides all elements of comprehensive abortion care, as well as other medical services. This comprises of sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis and treatment, pregnancy testing, antenatal services, menstrual complications, post abortion care, infertility, nutrition and hygiene.
- St. Augustine Community Health Centre (SACH) Contraception, post abortion care and pain management, sexually transmitted infections (STI) management, antenatal services, infertility, menstrual complications and cervical cancer screening all affordable at health facilities under SACH.
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/st.augustinecommunityhealthcentre/?_rdc=1&_rdr - Community Health Rights Network (Coherinet) Aunt KAKI Sexual Reproductive Health Services and Rights Information Toll Free Help line provides non-judgmental and clear information about the choices available to women of reproductive age from the Priority and Key Affected Populations groups from the community grass root levels.
Toll Free line: 0800 24 72 47(MTN) / 0800 34 73 47(Airtel)
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/coherinet/ - The Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Uganda (AOGU)
Advance Reproductive Health services through excellent practice, education, research, collaborations and advocacy.
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/AOGU1985/
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Sources
- i “New Report Exposes Impact of Uganda’s Abortion Law through Personal Stories” Centre for Reproductive Health Rights https://www.reproductiverights.org/press-room/new-report-exposes-impact-of-ugandas-abortion-law-through-personal-stories
- ii “Abortion and Post-abortion Care in Uganda” Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/abortion-and-postabortion-care-uganda
- iii “Penal Code’ Act 1950”. Uganda legal information Institute. https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/consolidated-act/120
- iv “Incidence of Induced Abortion in Uganda 2013: New Estimates Since 2003”
Elena Prada, Lynn M. Atuyambe, Nakeisha M. Blades, Justine N. Bukenya, Christopher Garimoi Orach, Akinrinola Bankole
PLoS One. 2016; 11(11): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5089684/ - v “Ugandan opinion-leaders’ knowledge and perceptions of unsafe abortion”. Ann M Moore, Richard Kibombo, Deva Cats-Baril, Health Policy and Planning, Volume 29, Issue 7, October 2014, Pages 893–901 https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt070

Amateeka Gokujjamu Olubuto Mu’yuganda
Enyanjula
“Okujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda kukkirizibwa mumbera ntono nyo, wadde nga kiteeberezebwa nti abakazi 85,000 buli mwanka baffuna obujjajambi orwebiva mukujjamu embuto mubukyamu awamu nomuwendo omulala 65,000 ogwabakazi abafuuna obuzibu kunabana naye nga ttebafuna buyambi mumarwaliro”i Ama’ddagala gokujjamu olubuto gasobola okugulibwa mu marwaliro ge’ddagala nga olina ebbaluwa okuva ewomusawo era nokulongoosebwa mukunjamu olubuto kusoboka mu’yuganda. Ama’ddagala kokujjamu olubuto agakilizibwa mu’yuganda ggagula siringi okuva ku 20,000 paka ku 80,000.
Okujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda kukilizibwa?
Okujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda kukilizibwa kasiita nenkuba nga kukolebwa okutasa obulamu bwomubukazi. Enyingo 22 (2) mussemateeka wa’yuganda awakanya okujjawo obulamu obwomuntu yyena nga ogaseko obwomwana atanazalibwa naye era eragira nti mubisera ebimu olubuto lusobola okujjibwamu mumateeka. Mu’kweyongerayo, mu 2006 eteeka lye’ensi emu mukulungamibwa embwobulamu ne’peleza eyomuwendo ku nsonga yekikolwa ya’bakyala ne’ddembe lyawe mukukajjamu embuto mugeri endala; nga embera ya’baana abaliko obukyamu mulubuto, abakwatidwa, abakakiddwa omukwano okuva mu bazzadde babwe na’bakazi abalina silimu.ii
Wabula, eteeka lya’yuganda ku’kujjamu olubuto likyalinamu ebitategelekeka. Newakubadde nga’linyonyola egeri yokukwatamu ensoga enzo, Okubonerezebwa okuli mu Penal-Code ya 1950 enyonyola okubonereza emisango njja’abantu abajjemu embuto mugeri emenya amateeka. Mu’biino mwemuli okugezako okujjamu olubuto mugeri emenya amateeka, abakazi abagezako okujjamu omwana nga’tanakula, nokutunda eddagala elijjamu olubuto. Biino bi’bonerezebwa mu’ssemateka wa’yuganda ne’myanka ejjitalijimu mukomera. Naye era eteeka liiwa obukuumi eri abantu abalongosa abakazi okujjamu omwana / olubuto mu’buntubulamu nga’bewaala obulabe eri omukazi / maama oyo (Olunyilili 224). Kyadakyi, enyingo 22 (2) mu’ssemateeka wa’yuganda elagila Paliamenti ya’yuganda okubaaga eteeka elina lungamya engeri okujjamu olubutto bwekunakolebwa nga mu’mateeka.iii
Newakubadde ssemateeka ejjilagira, Palliamenti nenaba ku’baaga eteeka lino okutukiriza omulamwa guno, era Penal-code ya’yuganda ebonereza abantu abonna abenyigira mu’kujjamu olubuto, ekyaliwo era jjebakozesa okutegera ani alimusobi.
Nkola kii eyo’kujjamu olubuto eriwo mu’yuganda?
Yuganda ewa abantu enkola eyeddagala ne enkola yokulogosebwa mukujjamu olubuto eri oyo ayagala. Enkola eyeddagala (medical abortion), eggata eddagala lyamilundi ebiri; Mifepristone ne Misoprostol okukozesebwa. Enkola yokulogosebwa nayo elina ekola biri; Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) ne Dilation & Evacuation (D&E).
- Enkola eyeddagala (MA) ekozesebwa paka ku’sabiiti 12 ezolubuto.
- Enkola yokulogosebwa esoka (MVA) ekozesebwa paka sabiiti 14 ezolubuto.
- Enkola yokulogosebwa eyokubili (D&E) ekozesebwa paka sabiiti 24 ezolubuto (Tewelabira nti: ekozesebwa okuva ku’sabiiti 15 paka sabiiti 24 ezolubuto)
Enkola yokulabilila abakazi abagyemu embuto ekirizibwa mu’marwaliro aga’gavumenti nago’obwananyini mu’yuganda.iv
Ani asobola okuwa enkola yo’kujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda?
Mu’yuganda, asobola okuyamba okujjamu olubuto wuno:
- Omusawo omukugu mubyabakyala
- Omusawo wabantu boona
- Kilinico offisa yena
- Omuzaalisa
- Omujjanjabiv
Nsobola kugenda wa okufuuna empereza yokujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda?
Empereza eyomulembe atenga ekilizibwa mu’yuganda esangibwa mu’marwaliro ga’govumenti nago agobwananyini agawadikidwa mu mu’minisiture ya’byabulamu na’malala agari mu bitongole bwowanakyewa (NGO) mu’yuganda
Amarwaliro ga’gavumenti mu distrikti nemubwalo g’awa empereza yo’kulabilila abakyala abagyemu embuto mubugedelevu nabo abatagedelede mugeri yemu awataali kusosola.
Muwendo kii ogwetagiisa okufuuna empereza yo’kujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda?
Omuwendo ogwetagiisa okufuuna empereza yo’kujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda gukyukakyuka kusizilila ku’nkola kii omuntu gyeyetaga okukozesa ne kiffo omuntu kyalimu. Enkola ye’ddagala eyinza okubela ku’muwendo gwa siringi 20,000 ne 40,000 ku’nkola ya Misoprotal yeeka, wabula siringi 50,000 ku 80,000 za nkola ya Mifepristone ne Misoprostal byomi. Enkola yokulogosebwa mu’kujjamu olubuto eyinza okubela ku’muwendo gwa siringi 80,000 paka 300,000.
Ddagala kii elyo kujjamu olubuto eliriwo mu’yuganda?
Waliwo ddagala ya’milundi ebiri mu’yuganda:
- Enkola eyo’kugaata eddagala lya Misoprostol ne Mifepristone welili mu nkora nyinji nga: MA kare, Divabo ne Mariprist.
- Ekikola kya Misoprostol kyoka mu’manya ga’Miso Kare ,Cytotec, Misoclear ne Kontrac, ne misoprost.
Ekikola kya Misoprostol ye’ddagala ekola mukutangira obulimu gwa’amaazi go’musaayi agayitibwa progesterone agayamba okukuma olubuto lyo’mukazi nga’kitole. Ekyo’kulabirako ye’ddagala lya MA Kare eri’gata ekikora kya misoprostol ne mifepristone. Eddagala lya’Misoprostol lisobola okukozesebwa okuyamba olubuto lyoona okuvamu. Eki’korwa kya Miso Kare kiliina Misoprostol yeka. Okumanya ebisingako kwebyo, kozesa wanno.
Ngenda wa okugula eddagala lyo’kujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda?
Misoprostol ne/ oba ekikorwa kye’ddagala ekilina Misoprostol ne Mifepristone lisobola okugulwa mu’marwaliro gamaddagala oba mu’ffamase mu’yuganda, naye ebaluwa yo’musawo yetaagiwa. Emiwendo zikyuka ku’buli dwaliro yamaddagala oba mu’ffamase.
Wetegeleze nti: amarwaliro gamaddagala oba ama’ffamase agasinga gatunda eddagala lino awatali baluuwa okuva ewomusawo; wabula tebawa ndagiriro yokukozesa ddagala lino, no’muwndo kii ogwokumira, na’ni alina okulimira. Tukusaba ogende kumutimbagano gwaffe okuli enkola yonna ne’ndagiriro mu’kukozesa eddagala lino: https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/lg
Eddagala lyo’kujjamu olubuto lifanana litwa mu’yuganda?
Wansi tweyogende okuwa obika bwe’ddagala ebikozesebwa okujjamu olubuto mu’yuganda.
Eno yengeli eddagala lya Ma Kare welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya Mariprist welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya Divabo welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya Miso-kare welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya Cytotec welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya Miso-clear welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya misoprost welifanana:

Eno yengeli eddagala lya Kontrac welifanana:

Ani gwesobola okutukirira nga’netaga embeleza yokujjamu olubuto mugeri entuffu no’buyambi obulala mu’yuganda?
- Marie Stopes Uganda Okwegema okuzaala, Obuyambi bwoyo agyemu olubuto, no’kukedenza obulumi, byamiwendo mitono nyo kumarwaliro ga Marie stopes ggona.
- Reproductive Health Uganda Okwegema okuzaala, Obuyambi bwoyo agyemu olubuto, no’kukedenza obulumi, byamiwendo mitono nyo kumarwaliro ga Reproductive Health Uganda ggona.
- Uganda Reproductive Health Bureu(URHB) Okwegema okuzaala, Obuyambi bwoyo agyemu olubuto, no’kukedenza obulumi, byamiwendo mitono nyo kumarwaliro ga URHB ggona. URHB yatongozewa nomulamwa gwokutukiriza empereza ye’kiikola kyabakazi mubavubuka na abaana.
- Naguru Teenage Centre Empereza eno ewa obuyambi bwonna munkola yo’kujjamu olubuto nepereza endala. Ebimu kubinno muli; okukebela obulwadde byekiikaba (STI) no’bujjajabi, okukebela olubutto, okukebela oluzaaro, ebizibu byokugenda musonga, Obuyambi bwoyo agyemu olubuto, obugumba, obwe’mere nobuyonjjo.
- St. Augustine Community Health Centre (SACH) Okwegema okuzaala, Obuyambi bwoyo agyemu olubuto, no’kukedenza obulumi, okukebela obulwadde byekiikaba (STI) no’bujjajabi, okukebela olubutto, okukebela oluzaaro, ebizibu byokugenda musonga, no’kukebela kansa wanabaana kumiwendo emisamusamu ku marwaliro ga SACH. Batukilile ku mutimbagano muwuna bwalo ogwa
Fesibuku: https://web.facebook.com/st.augustinecommunityhealthcentre/?_rdc=1&_rdr - Community Health Rights Network (Coherinet) Senga KAKI akola ku songa gya abakazi nempereza yekiikola kyabakyala awatali kusosola, nga awa ngri omukazi jjasobola okweyamba eri abawaala abatukiride mu’myaka mu bantu abasing okukosbwa mumwalo. Batukilile kunamba jjabwe jjino:
0800 24 72 47(ya MTN) / 0800 34 73 47(ya Airtel). Batukilile ku mutimbagano muwuna bwalo ogwa
Fesibuku: https://web.facebook.com/coherinet/ - The Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Uganda (AOGU)
Okwongeza mupereza ye’kiikola kya’bakyala, okusomesa, okunonyeleza, emikago no’kukowola gavumenti. Batukilile ku mutimbagano muwuna bwalo ogwa
Fesibuku: https://web.facebook.com/AOGU1985/
Osimye obuyambi byaffe oba nedda? Kiiki ekirara kyoyagara wano?
Tutukirire wano: info@howtouseabortionpill.org
Ensibuko:
- i “New Report Exposes Impact of Uganda’s Abortion Law through Personal Stories” Centre for Reproductive Health Rights https://www.reproductiverights.org/press-room/new-report-exposes-impact-of-ugandas-abortion-law-through-personal-stories
- ii “Abortion and Post-abortion Care in Uganda” Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/abortion-and-postabortion-care-uganda
- iii “Penal Code’ Act 1950”. Uganda legal information Institute. https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/consolidated-act/120
- iv “Incidence of Induced Abortion in Uganda 2013: New Estimates Since 2003”
Elena Prada, Lynn M. Atuyambe, Nakeisha M. Blades, Justine N. Bukenya, Christopher Garimoi Orach, Akinrinola Bankole
PLoS One. 2016; 11(11): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5089684/ - v “Ugandan opinion-leaders’ knowledge and perceptions of unsafe abortion”. Ann M Moore, Richard Kibombo, Deva Cats-Baril, Health Policy and Planning, Volume 29, Issue 7, October 2014, Pages 893–901 https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt070