By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
Over twenty journalists from different media outlets plus other activists from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on September 25, 2024 met in Kampala to discuss how to popularize safe and legal abortion in Uganda. The media cafe was organized by Family Medical point to commemorate the Global Day of access to safe and legal abortion.
The Executive Director for Family Medical Point, Moses Odongo, explained that the media café was intended to engage the media on the role they play in addressing abortion stigma in Uganda.
During the media café briefing, majority of the female journalists agreed with the promotion of safe and legal abortion saying this allows terminating unplanned pregnancies. While some male journalists strongly disagreed with the issue of promoting safe abortion saying it’s a sin before God and that holy books condemn abortion in the strongest terms possible.
The media personnel were also able to discuss the editorial policies, values and approaches to right-based reporting on abortion in influencing media narratives around the issue of abortion. The Journalists and other activists also used the platform to share their experiences, challenges and strategies for improving abortion coverage in Uganda.
One of the abortion activists told the gathering that abortion is unavoidable citing areas of Bwaise zone where school going girls engage in unprotected sex with men to look for survival but unfortunately end up getting pregnant which necessitates them to carry out abortion to enable them continue with their studies.
Another activist who is a medical doctor told the gathering that safe abortion should be legalized saying that there are instances where you cheat on your husband and end up being impregnated and that in order to maintain your marriage one has to abort to avoid marital problems.
