Kasese maternal mortalities worrying as expectant mothers delay antenatal care visits

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A spike in maternal deaths and prenatal losses in Kasese district has sent shockwaves through health authorities, prompting urgent calls for action to address gaps threatening the lives of expectant mothers and newborns. 

During a district health review meeting in Kasese municipality on September 30, 2025, officials said 22 women died during childbirth and 488 prenatal deaths occurred in the 2024/2025 financial year. The statistics were described as unacceptable by district health officer (DHO) Dr Amon Bwambale.



Bwambale highlighted the gravity of the situation during the September 30 meeting, attended by political, cultural, and religious leaders.

“We’re struggling to find solutions,” he said, stressing that maternal and infant survival is important for the district’s future. 

He called for collaboration across sectors to address the crisis, noting, “without healthy mothers and babies, the foundations of our communities, churches and cultural institutions crumble.”

Why the sudden change

Late antenatal care was cited as the main cause of the developments. Bwambale blamed many mothers for delaying visits to health facilities, opting instead for untrained traditional birth attendants. 

District assistant health officer for maternal health, Loy Muhindo, added that teenage pregnancies, now at 21%, pose severe risks due to underdeveloped bodies. 

“These young mothers fear speaking up, unaware they’re jeopardising their health,” he said.

Residents also claimed systemic barriers. Jane Kabugho, a 26-year-old mother from Rukoki sub-county, described the gruelling 10km trek to reach a road with transport to a clinic. 

“Distance discourages regular checkups,” she said. 

Meresi Lusunzu of Kyabarungira sub-county said many facilities lack basic equipment like blood pressure machines, forcing mothers to pay exorbitant fees at private clinics. “We skip antenatal care because we can’t afford it,” she said.

Inadequate infrastructure, according to some of the leaders, was also to blame. 

Mubuku town LC3 chairperson Joseph Nyamutale decried the absence of a Health Centre III in his area, leaving residents without essential services. However, hope emerged from plans to upgrade facilities. 

LC5 chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi Bukombi cited ongoing upgrades, including elevating Rukoki Health Centre IV to a community hospital and expanding Nyabirongo Health Centre III.

“The Government has pledged to transform all Health Centres II into IV or IIIs, equipping them to meet community needs,” he said.

Bwambale said solving the crisis requires collective action: Political, religious, and cultural leaders must use their platforms to promote timely antenatal care and discourage risky practices.