Unsafe abortions are leading to fatalities, as highlighted by the case of 16-year-old Sharon Namyalo, who faced an unplanned pregnancy and resorted to dangerous methods to terminate it, nearly losing her life. Experts are advocating for improved reproductive health education to prevent such incidents, particularly among teenagers in Uganda.

During the celebration of International Women’s Day 2026 in Uganda, Kayunga District emphasized the urgent issue of lacking a functional ambulance at Bbaale Health Centre IV, which endangers the lives of expectant mothers. The event, themed "Scaling up Investment to Accelerate Access to Justice for All Women and Girls," highlighted maternal health concerns while health workers pointed out the critical infrastructure gap affecting emergency services.

In Kayunga District, teenage pregnancies have become a significant concern, with nearly one in five deliveries at Bbaale Health Centre IV involving girls under 18. Health officials reported that in the past six months, 107 out of 570 mothers who delivered at the facility were below this age. The issue has been exacerbated by allegations of relatives coercing young girls into sexual relationships, which was highlighted during an International Women’s Day event at the health centre.

A report published on Wednesday revealed that over 500 mothers and babies experienced potentially avoidable harm or died as a result of inadequate care at a UK hospital, marking a significant maternity scandal in the country. This inquiry is noted as the largest of its kind in the UK.

Health workers in Uganda are advocating for expanded age-appropriate sexuality education for girls to help reduce the incidence of unsafe abortions. During a Media Café organized by the Health Journalists Network Uganda (HEJNU), Joyce Najjemba, a nursing officer at Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, emphasized the importance of this education in addressing the high number of unsafe abortions reported in the country.

During the Women’s Day celebrations in Jinja, Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, emphasized the need for collective action to combat adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence (GBV), and corruption in the Busoga region. The event, themed "Scaling up Investment to Accelerate Access to Justice for all Women and Girls in Uganda," highlighted the importance of women's empowerment and acknowledged President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's support for these initiatives.