Unsafe abortions surge at Kigungu landing site

In the shadows of Uganda’s fishing villages, a silent crisis unfolds—one that claims lives and exposes deep-rooted inequalities.

At Kigungu Landing Site, unsafe abortions are a daily reality, driven by poverty, stigma, and lack of healthcare.

This pressing issue highlights the critical need for enhanced reproductive health services and support for marginalized populations.

In Uganda, unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal deaths, accounting for 26% of fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health.

A staggering 314,000 unsafe abortions occur annually in the country, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, such as fishing villages, as reported by the Guttmacher Institute in 2021.

The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2022) reveals that unintended pregnancies remain a significant challenge, particularly in underserved regions like fishing communities. These unintended pregnancies often lead to unsafe abortion practices, perpetuating cycles of vulnerability and poor health outcomes.

For women in Kigungu, the challenges are multifaceted, encompassing limited access to healthcare, economic hardships, and societal stigma.

Nociata Namuddu, a women's counselor at Kigungu Landing Site, emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues.

"Every day, I speak to women and girls who are terrified and desperate," Namuddu says.

"Many of them are sex workers or involved in informal fish-related jobs, which makes them highly vulnerable. They fear the judgment of society and the stigma attached to their work. They lack financial independence and often have no support system to turn to."

Namuddu's words paint a stark picture of the realities faced by women in Kigungu.

"Faced with unintended pregnancies, they resort to unsafe abortions because they see no other way out," she explains. "These women are risking their lives, and many of their struggles could be avoided if we had better healthcare systems and support services in place."

Organizations like Family Medical Point (FMP) are working tirelessly to address these challenges.

Polyne Nabwire, Head of Programs at FMP, highlights the importance of community support systems.

"The crisis of unsafe abortion in fishing communities is a symptom of deeper social and economic inequalities," Nabwire notes.

"Many women here are trapped in a cycle where they lack access to contraception, face gender-based violence, and have no safe options when confronted with unintended pregnancies."

Nabwire emphasizes the need for long-term empowerment programs to lift women out of these circumstances.

"We need more than just medical interventions—we need to address the root causes of these issues," she stresses.

Similarly, Voices for Health and Development, led by Juliet Esther Apio, is actively working to combat this crisis. Apio asserts, "We cannot continue to ignore the suffering of women in these communities."

Apio's words are a call to action, emphasizing the need for policy change and comprehensive reproductive healthcare.

"For too long, they have been silenced by stigma, poverty, and restrictive laws," she says. "It is time for real policy change—one that ensures that women, regardless of where they live, have access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare."

The plight of women at Kigungu Landing Site reflects a broader national issue that demands immediate attention. Without urgent intervention, more women and young girls will continue to suffer the devastating consequences of a lack of healthcare access, economic opportunities, and social support.

As the world celebrated International Women's Day, stakeholders called for the amplification of voices of the fishing communities and their  right to safe reproductive healthcare must be prioritized.