Number of mothers dying in Ugandan health facilities drops

__________________

The number of mothers dying while giving birth in Ugandan health facilities has reduced, a new report has revealed.

The Institutional, Maternal Mortality report 2024/2025 shows a sudden drop in the number of mothers dying due to pregnancy and child-related complications in health facilities from 83 per 100,000 live births (IMMR 2023/24) to 69 per 100,000 live births, which translates to a 25% reduction in a space of five years. Notably, this cuts across all age groups.

The Commissioner for Reproductive and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr Richard Mugahi, said although there is a decline in deaths recorded in health facilities, the target is to ensure no mothers die in communities. “We need to reduce mortality by 13.5%, as opposed to the current reduction rate of 7.9 % in order to achieve the SDG targets of reducing maternal deaths by less than 70 per 100,000,” Dr Mugahi noted.

The new data was revealed during the ongoing 5^th National Safe Motherhood Conference under the theme: “Strengthening Multi-Sectoral Collaboration and Mutual Accountability for Safe Motherhood”. 

The three-day (October 22-24) conference kicked off today, October 22, 2025, at the Speke Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo, in Kampala.

The event was graced by the Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda (Queen of Buganda Kingdom) as Chief Guest.

The Queen of Buganda Kingdom her Highness Sylvia Nagginda Luswata at the ongoing 5th National Safe Motherhood conference. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

In her remarks, Nagginda said maternal mortality is a critical issue that calls for innovative, fresh strategies to effectively overcome the persistent challenges.

“We must focus on approaches that actively engage our predominantly young, vibrant and sexually active population, characterised by high fertility rates,” the Queen of Buganda noted.

She further noted that these strategies should be culturally acceptable, accessible and resonate with people's realities, ensuring their effectiveness in driving sustainable and meaningful change.

Other Dignitaries at the events were: 

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, was represented by Kenneth Akiri, Under Secretary at Ministry of Health who represented the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Ms Kristine Blokhus; UNFPA country representative in Uganda, the WHO Country Representative, Mr Philip Smith the Development Director, British High Commission Uganda, the Chair Health Service Commission Dr Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa, Mrs Charlotte Muhoozi, the PPH (Postpartum Hemorrhage) ambassador,  Signe Winding Albjerg, the Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda, plus Bank Secretary, Bank of Uganda, Ms Susan Wasagali Kanyemibwa.

What is killing the women

Dr Mugahi cited the leading cause of maternal deaths to continuous bleeding from before and after childbirth, a health complication medically termed obstetric hemorrhage. Notably, this accounts for between 40 to 46 percent of all the causes.

The 5th National Safe Motherhood Conference 2025 underway at Speke Resort Munyonyo. (Courtesy/MoH)

This is followed by hypertensive disorders that have risen from 15 percent to 20 percent. He also cited anesthetic complications as the other driving factor, which is compounded by medicines that are given to mothers, an area that has been neglected for long.

Cultural practices involve mothers taking drugs that cause the uterus to contract.

Dr Mugahi said mothers dying in health facilities also stems from the delay in the community, delay to reach the health facility due to broken bridges, poor roads, lack of transport and delay at the facilities resulting from inadequate equipment and inadequate commodities.

What is being done

Everything about delay is critical. In the bid to reduce the delay to access transport, the Ministry of Health has procured over 300 ambulances and distributed them, including on water bodies.

Additionally, the health ministry is working to reduce the delay at the facility level by making sure equipment, medicines, and supplies are available.

Additionally, the community health extension programme has been strengthened, where community extension health workers have to report maternal deaths and enlighten communities.

What needs to be done

In her keynote address, Her Excellency Signe Winding Albjerg, Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda, said reducing maternal mortality amidst an increasingly unpredictable and challenging financial environment demands boldness and creativity with financing, moving beyond traditional aid models.

This, according to Signe, means embracing local innovation, digital health solutions, the apps, and the local supply chain innovations that have been developed right here in Uganda.

She said these are low-cost but high-impact digital solutions, and are often regarded as the smartest investment when you have a tight financial landscape.

If Uganda is going to achieve the target of ending preventable maternal newborn death by 2030, there is need to recruit midwives and nurses, especially at health centre IVs, said the chairperson of the Health Service Commission (HSC), Dr Henry Mwebesa.

In addition, the health workers should be in a position to conduct Cesarean section deliveries.

Dr Mwebesa also called for the need to improve attendance where doctors, midwives and nurses adhere to their duty rosters.

Uganda has made notable progress. Recent data show that maternal mortality has declined from 336 per 100,000 live births in 2016 to 189 per 100,000 live births (UDHS 2022).

Newborn death rate stands at 18 per 1000 live births (World Bank Group 2023), and under-five mortality now stands at 38.8 per 1000 live births (World Bank Group 2023).