The chairperson for the Uganda Women’s Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Sarah Opendi has called for the promotion use of contraceptives rather than allowing abortion, as a means of preventing Unwanted Pregnancies.
Opendi made the remarks at the launch of a campaign dubbed Women’s Lobby Day under the theme” Act with others Rather than alone, power of numbers” at Parliament.
Speaking to the young women activists at Parliament Opendi encouraged the use of contraceptives to avoid getting unwanted pregnancy, which may lead to abortion resulting in death.
“The issues around abortion, the constitution does not wholly prohibit abortion, when the life of a mother is in danger the pregnancy can be terminated, However, it remains a contentious issue, and this way for me rather than advocating for abortion, it’s very important to reach out to the girls, those who sexually active to know that once they engage they will get pregnant, Hon Opendi explained.
She said the government has provided contraceptives which are widely available in all health centers, countrywide nearer and easier for people to get, than walking into a general hospital to ask for contraceptives.
“So I think the issue of abortion is not a good one, and I remember I championed this whole issue, and more, what we had to do was to tell people about the available contraceptives, and as you can see that effort paid up, and the abortions slightly reduced, now comes as number four, it was ranked as the second highest cause of maternal deaths, so let us promote the use of contraceptives,” Opendi noted.
Sarah Opendi who is also the Tororo district woman MP appealed to the young women activists to support her in the marriage bill to fight for women’s rights in marriage.
The bill seeks to provide comprehensive legislation on matters relating to marriage considering that the Marriage Act enacted 118 years ago has not been amended.
Jean Ngobi-Executive Director Akiina Mama WA Africa said women need to be financially empowered to access financial services, especially women at the grassroots.
The executive director for Network of Women in Politics Lillian Babirye said the first ever Women’s Lobby Day is to bring together young women activists from the grassroots to Lobby MPs to have gender equality sensitive legislation.
The Civil society organization fighting for the rights of women wants sexually active women to use contraceptives to be used to prevent abortion because it’s illegal to abort.
Today the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association with Akiina Mama WA Africa and NOWIP Network of Women in Politics have been launching a campaign dubbed “Women’s Lobby Day” under the Theme: – “Act with others Rather Than Alone. Power of Numbers” which has attracted women from the grassroots.
Opendi has asked the public to stop criticizing the controversial marriage Bill over the clause on marital rape which no longer exists in the new Marriage Bill which she tabled recently.
The bill seeks to provide comprehensive legislation on matters relating to marriage considering that the Marriage Act enacted 118 years ago has not been amended.
Jean Ngobi-Executive Director Akiina Mama WA Africa says women need to be financially empowered to access financial services,, especially women at the grassroots.
