Health Journalism Network Uganda (HEJNU) Health Media Café in Gulu City

On March 24^th , 2026, the Health Journalism Network Uganda (HEJNU) held a one-day health media café at Flight View Motel, Gulu City. on “Post Abortion Care and Survival”.

The engagement started at 9:00 a.m. and went through until 2:00 p.m.

The café was attended by 20 participants –14 of them journalists drawn from different media houses— within Gulu City. The invited speakers included an experienced gynaecologist and obstetrician, a human rights lawyer and a survivor who was our “case study”.

The Speakers: Dr Pebalo Pebolo, Obstetrician and gynaecologist and Lecturer in the Department of Reproductive Health at Gulu University.
Ms. Cinderella Alimucan, a Human Rights lawyer.
Ms. Jackline, our case study from Awach sub county, Gulu district.

At the café, the speakers discussed abortion care in Uganda, regional causes of maternal deaths, post abortion care guidelines, the law on abortion and its impact on post abortion care and so forth.

The session was moderated by John K. Okot, a journalist from the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC).

The journalists who attended the café.

NO	Names	Media House
1	Okello Gift	Speak Fm
2	Chowoo Willy	NUMEC
3	Justine Muboka	Radio Favour
4	Ekwany Rebbeca	Radio Favour
5	Ismael Jacob Jones	Radio Rupiny
6	Patrick Uma	Chimp Reports
7	Wilfred Okot	The Ankole Times
8	James Owich	Nation Media Group
9	Joan Adong	TND News
10	Jimmy Komakech	Greater North News Agency (GNNA)
11	Okot Wilfred	Ankole Times
12	Okello Jesus Ojara	TND News
13	Chowoo Willy	Elephant News
14	Okot Lil Romeo	Speak Fm

John K. Okot talked about the work of the Health Journalism Network Uganda (HEJNU) and its mandate, highlighting the reasons for the engagement, and what was required of the participants.

Journalists introduced themselves and their designation. The goal was to make everyone acquainted so as to build more networks as health journalists.

Before the first speaker took over, John also appealed to journalists to follow the presentation critically so as to ask the questions in case there is need for clarification. This, he said, would enable the journalists produce informative and journalistic content in the areas regarding reproductive health.

Presentations by Dr. Pebalo Pebolo on “Post-abortion care in Uganda”:

The first presentation was made by Dr Pebalo Pebolo, an experienced gynaecologist, obstetrician and also the senior lecturer at the Department of Reproductive Health, Gulu University.

He defined Post Abortion Care (PAC) as Post as the medical, social, psychological, spiritual care and support given to a person after an abortion.

He also defined key terms related to abortion for journalists to effectively report about the subject.

Abortifacient: Substance or drug that causes an abortion.
Abortion: expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before viability

This could be:

Spontaneously (or miscarriage).
Intentional termination, called an induced abortion.

Spontaneous abortion:

Causes include disease, trauma, genetic defect, or biochemical incompatibility of mother and fetus.
Occasionally, a fetus dies in the uterus but fails to be expelled, a condition termed a missed abortion

Dr. Pebalo also highlighted a brief history on abortion.

The Chinese were the first to record the practice of induced abortion, using royal concubines (500-515 B.C)

Hippocrates oath prohibits the use of abortifacient plants around 5^th Century BC. Greeks start using gynecological instruments t administer abortions.

However, the ancient Greeks did utilize compulsory abortion to control natural growth.

Greek moral attitudes on abortion were largely adopted by the Romans; later altered by Christianity—and new ethical ideas.

Dr. Pebalo also highlights the burden surrounding abortion.

Majority of the women admitted in gynecological wards have abortion-related complications.
The law makes abortion more clandestine hence women are dying.
Unfortunately, the young and poor women are the ones dying.

Dr. Pebalo also shared a number cases studies reported in the news including a story by the Daily Monitor titled:

“800 abortions procured daily in Uganda, a new report shows”—Daily Monitor.
“Abortion crisis as girl turn to unsafe practices”—Daily Monitor.
“Unsafe abortion kills 1,500 women in Uganda”—The New Vision.
“Uganda performs 800 abortions daily”—The Observer Uganda.
“‘Its needless death’: Ugandans activists decry restrictive abortion laws”—Aljazeera

He also highlighted contribution to maternal death in Acholi (2021-22).

Region	Hemorrhage	Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy	Indirect causes	Pregnancy-related sepsis	Pre-existing disease	Post abortion complications
Acholi	29.70 %	18.80 %	12.50 %	10.90 %	12:50 %	9.40 %

Region	Others	Obstructed / prolonged labour	Anaesthetic complications
Acholi	3.10 %	0.00 %

Dr. Pebalo stated that Post-Abortion Care guideline involves prevention and management of abortion complications.

He further listed some of the elements of Post-Abortion Care (PAC):

Counselling.
Community and service provider partnerships.
Family planning and contraceptive services.
Treatment of complications.
Reproductive and other health services.

Utilisation of PAC services by women at Gulu Regional referral Hospital last year:

Received family planning (203 patients)
Linkage to other reproductive health services (141)
Linked to community health workers (2)
Received uterine evacuation (363)
Received counselling (291)

Challenges in Post-Abortion Care

Stigma and discrimination.
Mistreatment and neglect at the facility.
Legal and ethical conflicts among doctors in restrictive settings.
Resource limitation: inadequate training and equipment.
Systemic gaps: lack of data that can inform decisions.
Clandestine—and this makes it unsafe.

One of the journalists, Jesus Ojara, asked the difference between over-the counter drugs and prescriptive drugs—and over-the counter drugs would be among the causes of complications at the post-abortion stage.

Dr. Pebalo immediately clarified that, stating that over-the-counter drugs is self-treatment without a doctor’s supervision whereas prescriptive drug require sa doctor’s supervision.

He also said over-counter drugs used by patients to abort are risky since the practice is done without authorization from trained medical personnel.

Harm reduction services:

Syringe access
Syringe disposal
Safe drug use.
Drop-in centres.
Referral and linkage
Pharmacy access.
Medication-assisted treatment.
Supervised consumption services.

Guiding principles.

Sex occurs; some cases are unavoidable due to power imbalance
Pregnancy is inevitable
Unintended pregnancy is common.
Unwanted pregnancy is common.
Induced abortion is common; affected by law: access, quality and safety.

Unwanted pregnancy options.

Unwanted births.
Induced abortions.

Levels of abortion stigma.

Media.
Law and policy.
Institutional.
Community.
Individual.

Human resources management principles.

Women have different circumstances.
Rights:

Information
Privacy
Confidentiality
Autonomy
Non maleficence

Service providers:

First, do no harm
Professionalism
Secrecy
Obligation to provide care:

Information
Non-judgmental
Confidentiality

Legislation on abortion

Abortion is restricted in our country.
Health professionals can’t act during abortion process.
They can act before and after abortion.
Providing information is not a crime.

New approach of the “health initiative program”: abortion is restricted and it’s denied in most situations.

Guidelines

Before abortion

Counselling regarding alternatives to abortion
Information about abortion methods and risks.
Epidemiological analysis.

Abortion stage

Can be illegal
Can be denied

Post-Abortion Care

Damage prevention
Comprehensive rehabilitation
Future contraception

Dr. Pebalo also noted that during post-abortion visits, patients need immediate advice on contraception should answer why, when and which method.

He finalized by emphasizing that during PAC:

There should be supplies
Drugs
Professional skills

Presentation by Cinderella Alimuchan on the “Analysis of the law on abortion and its impacts on post-abortion care in Uganda”.

Ms. Alimuchan opened with a quote by a renowned gynaecologist, Prof. Mohmoud Fathala which goes:

“Women are mot dying because of the diseases we cannot treat. Women are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth living”.

She defined Reproductive Rights as a state of complete, physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity, in all matters relating reproductive systems, its function and matters.

Examples of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR):

Right to access to sexual health services
Sexuality education and information
Respect to bodily integrity
Choice of partner
Decision to be sexually active or not.

She noted that the SRGHR in Uganda is criminalized through anti-abortion laws.

Law on abortion in Uganda

Simplest definition: abortion is the termination of pregnancy.
Legal regime in Uganda is restrictive on abortion.
Abortion remains prohibited in Uganda except under certain circumstances.
Ugandan law is set out to punish women and health workers who perform it.
Law against abortion include Article 22 (2) of Uganda constitution (1995) and the Penal Code Act Cap 128.
Pervasive perception on the illegality of abortion has a chilling effect on women, girls and health workers.
It’s fueling stigma, fear and secrecy.
Law contravenes the women’s rights to body autonomy.
Right of women to make autonomous decisions about their bodies is at the core of their fundamental rights to equality and privacy.

Exception to the law on abortion:

Ugandan Penal Code Act doesn’t absolutely prohibit termination of pregnancy.
Permits abortion to preserve the life and health of the mothers (Penal Code Act 128 section 207).

Ministry of Health National Policy guidelines on SRHR

Pregnancies resulting from rape.
Non-viable fetuses
Persons living with HIV/AIDS

Article 14 (2) of the Women’s Charter protects reproductive health right of women by authorizing abortion in certain cases:

Sexual assault
Rape
Incest
When the continued pregnancy may endanger the health or life of the mother, or that of fetus.

Post-abortion care.

2010-2014 shows that 45 % of induced abortion globally are unsafe.
Developing countries comprises 97 %.
Abortion rate in Uganda is slightly higher in east Africa (34 per 1,000 women) which calls for PAC.
PAC involves physical, emotional and reproductive support after a miscarriage or induced abortion.
PAC issue is complex in Uganda—often contradictory legal space.
Whereas Uganda’s law criminalizes most form of abortion, PAC is not illegal.
There is not express legal law provision on PAC in Uganda…
But World Health Organization recognizes it as right to health.

Legal provisions on PAC

Article 25 of UDHR
Article 12 CESCR,
Article 12 and 14 of CEDAW
Article 16 of ACHR
Article 14 of Women’s Charter

Ms. Alimuchan noted that PAC is derived from broader right to health; its access is considered a core obligation of states under SRHR regardless of legality of abortion.

Organizations in Uganda actively engaging in ligation and advocacy against illegal arrest of health workers in relation to abortion.

Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF)
Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD)

A case example:

Uganda Vs Fredrick K. (criminal case no. 56 of 2020)
Lugazi Chief Magistrate court charge Senior Clinical officer, Fredrick K. with procuring abortion.
Fredrick K. was arrested in April 2030 after providing PAC services to a patient.
HRAPH and CEHURD intervened; case was dismissed for want of prosecution.
This case shined a spotlight on the misunderstanding on PAC and risks health workers face when dealing with emergency cases.

Ms Alimuchan’s conclusions:

Law restricts an important aspect of SRHR—right to access to safe abortion services.
Law is discriminatory—criminalizes access to safe abortion by women.
Through the exercise of the law, the state influences a woman’s body autonomy/ sexuality.
Law permits treatment of abortion complications but practical application results in criminalizing health workers and patients.

Recommendations:

Free or affordable public sector family planning for all women.
Comprehensive family planning programs e.g counselling and wide range of contraceptive methods.
Expand and improve quality of PAC services that can treat severe complications from unsafe abortions.
Amending Uganda’s law on abortion to include PAC.

John K. Okot took over the last session were journalists listed potential story ideas derived from the health café.

Investigating how over-the-counter drugs is causing unsafe abortions among girls
The impacts of using harmful herbal medicines on abortions
Consequences on restrictive laws on abortion -related complications.
The burden of treating abortion-related complication and PAC services provision in Uganda.
The impact of advocacy on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights in rural areas.
Myths and stigma surrounding abortion.
How lack of counselling worsens abortions complications.
How Substance abuse is causing sexual violence during markets days in rural communities.
Profiling health workers as local heroes providing PAC services.
Life of teenager after abortion / profiling their journey –or what they got through.
Perspectives of culture and religion on PAC
Forces behind teenage abortion.
Roles of rehabilitation centre in PAC provision.
Profiling a patient who went through abortion after experiencing GBV.