Activity Overview
On 10 June 2026, the Health Journalists Network in Uganda (HEJNU), convened a one-day Media Science Café in Kampala to strengthen journalists’ understanding of safe abortion, post-abortion care, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
The session was presided over by HEJNU Team Leader Esther Nakkazi and Joy Namugembe, and coordinated by Jael Namiganda. A total of 19 journalists from print, radio, television, and online media participated alongside a midwife from Mulago Women’s Specialized Hospital, a legal advocate from VISTA Foundation Uganda, and a survivor of unsafe abortion.
The café aimed to equip journalists with evidence-based information to improve reporting on reproductive health issues and contribute to informed public dialogue.
Presenters
- Joyce Najjemba – Midwife, Mulago Women’s Specialized Hospital
- Editah Kamagara – VISTA Foundation Uganda
- Vivian Kamara – Survivor
Clinical Perspective on Unsafe Abortion and Post-Abortion Care
Midwife Joyce Najjemba discussed the causes, health consequences, and management of unsafe abortion, highlighting its contribution to maternal illness and death in Uganda. She explained that unsafe abortion often results from financial hardship, sexual violence, lack of family support, stigma, and limited access to reproductive health information and services.
Participants learned that women who undergo unsafe abortions frequently experience severe bleeding, infection, uterine and cervical injuries, infertility, and, in some cases, death if treatment is delayed.
Najjemba outlined the Ministry of Health’s approach to post-abortion care, explaining that emergency treatment includes assessment for bleeding and infection, laboratory investigations, ultrasound examinations where necessary, medical or surgical treatment, infection management, blood transfusion, HIV counselling and testing, and family planning counselling to prevent future unintended pregnancies.
She emphasized that post-abortion care extends beyond emergency treatment to include psychological support, noting that many women experience trauma, emotional distress, guilt, and stigma following abortion-related complications. Counselling provided by midwives, psychologists, and other health professionals is therefore an essential component of recovery.
The presentation also stressed the importance of comprehensive sexuality education, beginning early and continuing throughout adolescence, to help young people make informed decisions, prevent unintended pregnancies, and reduce unsafe abortion. Participants discussed the need for greater community engagement through schools, health outreaches, and community dialogues to improve awareness and reduce stigma.
Najjemba said that unsafe abortion remains a significant public health challenge that requires a coordinated response involving healthcare providers, families, communities, and policymakers. Strengthening reproductive health education, improving access to family planning services, expanding post-abortion care, and providing psychological support are essential measures for reducing maternal deaths and preventing unsafe abortion practices. Continued community sensitization and support will play a crucial role in protecting the health and well-being of women and girls.
Legal and Policy Perspectives
Editah Kamagara – VISTA Foundation Uganda
Editah Kamagara from VISTA Foundation Uganda examined the legal and policy framework governing abortion and post-abortion care in Uganda, emphasizing the importance of a rights-based approach to reproductive healthcare.
She explained that Uganda’s Ministry of Health guidelines recognize limited circumstances under which abortion may be permitted, including when the woman’s life is at risk, in cases of severe fetal abnormalities, and in pregnancies resulting from rape, defilement, or incest.
Editah stressed the importance of distinguishing unsafe abortion from post-abortion care, noting that post-abortion care is an essential, life-saving health service. She highlighted that complications arising from unsafe abortion remain a significant contributor to preventable maternal illness and death, underscoring the need for timely access to quality healthcare.
The presentation also explored the impact of Uganda’s legal framework on women’s access to reproductive healthcare. Editah explained that uncertainty surrounding abortion laws and criminal provisions can discourage women from seeking timely medical care and create uncertainty among healthcare providers, increasing the risk of serious complications.
Participants were also taken through the Hera Sehad v. Attorney General case, which sought to establish a clearer legal framework for abortion care. While the court acknowledged the link between abortion and women’s right to health, it declined to direct Parliament to enact new legislation. The discussion highlighted the continuing need for greater legal clarity to support healthcare providers and improve access to quality reproductive healthcare.
Editah emphasized that restrictive legal and social environments disproportionately affect poor women, adolescents, and other vulnerable groups, many of whom resort to unsafe abortion because of limited access to reproductive health information and services. She encouraged journalists to report on abortion and post-abortion care from a public health and human rights perspective, using evidence-based information to promote informed public dialogue and reduce stigma.
Survivor Testimony
Vivian Kamara shared her experience of undergoing an unsafe abortion as a teenager, describing the serious physical and emotional consequences that followed. Her testimony illustrated how fear, limited reproductive health information, and inadequate support can leave young girls vulnerable to unsafe practices and life-threatening complications.
Vivian reflected on the long-term physical and psychological effects of her experience and encouraged young people to seek accurate reproductive health information and support when faced with unintended pregnancies. Her testimony reinforced the importance of youth-friendly reproductive health services, comprehensive sexuality education, and survivor-centred care.
Key Outcomes
The Media Science Café strengthened journalists’ understanding of the medical, legal, and social dimensions of unsafe abortion and post-abortion care. Participants gained practical knowledge on reproductive health terminology, post-abortion care, Uganda’s legal framework, and the importance of responsible, evidence-based reporting on sensitive SRHR issues.
The engagement also created opportunities for journalists to interact directly with health professionals, legal experts, and a survivor, strengthening their ability to report accurately while reducing stigma and misinformation.
Recommendations
Participants recommended:
- Strengthening public awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Expanding access to comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly services.
- Increasing availability of quality post-abortion care and psychological support.
- Strengthening community engagement to reduce stigma surrounding reproductive healthcare.
- Supporting evidence-based journalism that promotes accurate and balanced reporting on SRHR.
- Continuing collaboration between journalists, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and policymakers to improve public understanding of reproductive health issues.
Summary of Key Issues Across the Media Science Cafés
The Media Science Café series strengthened journalists’ knowledge and reporting skills on a broad range of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues through evidence-based discussions with health professionals, researchers, legal experts, civil society organizations, and people with lived experience.
Across the cafés, participants explored critical SRHR topics including comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, prevention of unintended pregnancies, maternal health, safe abortion and post-abortion care.
A strong emphasis was placed on rights-based approaches to healthcare. Journalists discussed the right to accurate and evidence-based reproductive health information, access to quality and respectful healthcare services, bodily autonomy, informed decision-making, confidentiality, and equitable access to services for women and adolescents.
The discussions also examined barriers that continue to undermine the realization of these rights, including stigma, restrictive legal and policy environments, gender inequality, poverty, misinformation and limited access to youth-friendly services.
Participants gained a better understanding of Uganda’s legal and policy framework on sexual and reproductive health, including post-abortion care, the importance of distinguishing legal and policy issues from public health considerations, and the need for accurate reporting grounded in evidence rather than myths or stigma.
The cafés highlighted the importance of survivor-centred approaches, drawing on lived experiences to illustrate the physical, emotional, social, and economic consequences of unsafe abortion, inadequate reproductive health information, and barriers to accessing timely healthcare.
Across all engagements, journalists were encouraged to report ethically and responsibly by using credible sources, protecting the dignity and privacy of survivors, challenging misinformation, promoting evidence-based public dialogue, and holding institutions accountable for improving access to quality SRHR services.
Collectively, the Media Science Cafés strengthened the capacity of journalists to produce accurate, balanced, and rights-based reporting that contributes to informed public discourse, reduces stigma, and supports improved access to sexual and reproductive health information and services in Uganda.
Below are some of the stories (only those with links) published. Note that many journalists are Radio journalists and sent us Audio recordings that we have nit shared here.
https://mulengeranews.com/bleeding-in-silence-ugandas-hidden-abortion-crisis-and-the-cost-of-fear/
“Mama FM – The Voice To Listen To” https://www.radiocomnetu.org/mamafm/2026/06/11/5861/
https://theugpost.com/preventing-unintended-pregnancies-a-key-step-in-reducing-unsafe-abortions/
https://eastafricanwatch.net/stigma-fear-push-women-adolescents-to-abort-in-uganda/
https://theugpost.com/preventing-unintended-pregnancies-a-key-step-in-reducing-unsafe-abortions/
https://eastafricanwatch.net/stigma-fear-push-women-adolescents-to-abort-in-uganda/
https://saltmedia.ug/en/local/categories/health/experts-warn-parents-about-proper-child-upbringing,-stop-abortion.html
