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In Uganda, abortion is generally illegal except when the woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy. The abortion law is also interpreted to cover when the woman's physical or mental health is endangered by the pregnancy. In all other circumstances, including when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, when there is risk of fetal impairment, social/economic reasons or when the woman requests an abortion, abortion is not permitted. | In Uganda, abortion is generally illegal except when the woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy. The abortion law is also interpreted to cover when the woman's physical or mental health is endangered by the pregnancy. In all other circumstances, including when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, when there is risk of fetal impairment, social/economic reasons or when the woman requests an abortion, abortion is not permitted. | ||
From a legal perspective, Ugandan abortion law is not clear. This makes it very difficult for the Ugandan legal and medical community to understand what is truly acceptable on legal grounds. According to the Ugandan Constitution, "No person has the right to terminate the life of an unborn child except as may be authorised by law." Yet, the "authorised" behavior is not specified under the Constitution. In the Penal Code, the law specifies that abortions can be performed to save the life of a woman and, under Section 217, a person who performs an abortion is not responsible if they perform it with the reasonable faith that it preserves the mother's life. Furthermore, Uganda, as a Commonwealth country, follows the ruling of the 938 English Rex v. Bourne decision, which ruled in favor of an abortion that prevented a woman from becoming “a physical and mental wreck." This case set the precedent for other potential abortions that may be performed on the grounds of preserving the physical or mental health of the woman. | From a legal perspective, Ugandan abortion law is not clear. This makes it very difficult for the Ugandan legal and medical community to understand what is truly acceptable on legal grounds. According to the Ugandan Constitution, "No person has the right to terminate the life of an unborn child except as may be authorised by law." Yet, the "authorised" behavior is not specified under the Constitution. In the Penal Code, the law specifies that abortions can be performed to save the life of a woman and, under Section 217, a person who performs an abortion is not responsible if they perform it with the reasonable faith that it preserves the mother's life. Furthermore, Uganda, as a Commonwealth country, follows the ruling of the 938 English Rex v. Bourne decision, which ruled in favor of an abortion that prevented a woman from becoming “a physical and mental wreck." This case set the precedent for other potential abortions that may be performed on the grounds of preserving the physical or mental health of the woman.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion in Uganda]</ref> | ||
Due to the restrictive and unclear nature of Ugandan abortion laws, many women seek clandestine abortion services. While there is no official data on the underground abortion rate in Uganda, a 2003 study found that 1 out of 19 women in Uganda had obtained an abortion annually, which was higher than the East African average. Wealthier Ugandan women are often able to find nurses, doctors and licensed health care professionals who can secretly help them obtain abortions. Poorer Ugandan women must often resort to more unsafe (i.e. less medically trained) abortion providers. It should be emphasized that all women, whether rich or poor, experience risk in seeking out clandestine abortions in Uganda, as they are by nature underground and often lack comprehensive medical resources. In 2008, the Ugandan Ministry of Health estimated that 26% of all maternity-related deaths were due to abortions. | Due to the restrictive and unclear nature of Ugandan abortion laws, many women seek clandestine abortion services. While there is no official data on the underground abortion rate in Uganda, a 2003 study found that 1 out of 19 women in Uganda had obtained an abortion annually, which was higher than the East African average. Wealthier Ugandan women are often able to find nurses, doctors and licensed health care professionals who can secretly help them obtain abortions. Poorer Ugandan women must often resort to more unsafe (i.e. less medically trained) abortion providers. It should be emphasized that all women, whether rich or poor, experience risk in seeking out clandestine abortions in Uganda, as they are by nature underground and often lack comprehensive medical resources. In 2008, the Ugandan Ministry of Health estimated that 26% of all maternity-related deaths were due to abortions. | ||
If you're in Uganda and need an abortion, you should first try to consult medical personnel or friends who you trust. There are many unsafe providers, so you should exercise extreme caution. If you have the financial means to leave Uganda, you may want to consider obtaining an abortion in [[South Africa]] or [[Mozambique]], where it is available upon request. In [[Zambia]], abortion is permitted for social or economic reasons, so that may also be a place to consider (but you should research the details first and get in contact with a health care provider in Zambia to confirm). | If you're in Uganda and need an abortion, you should first try to consult medical personnel or friends who you trust. There are many unsafe providers, so you should exercise extreme caution. If you have the financial means to leave Uganda, you may want to consider obtaining an abortion in [[South Africa]] or [[Mozambique]], where it is available upon request. In [[Zambia]], abortion is permitted for social or economic reasons, so that may also be a place to consider (but you should research the details first and get in contact with a health care provider in Zambia to confirm). | ||