Inside Uganda’s C-Section fraud racket

For many families, the decision to accept a Caesarean birth is made under intense pressure and fear. “In some cases, the decision has little to do with strict medical necessity. The profession allows doctors to exercise their judgement, but there is misuse of trust, there is exploitation, and there is abuse, and that is where regulation needs to come in,” the expert said.

Namale’s experience is not isolated. Across Uganda, particularly in urban centres, more women are being advised to undergo C-sections, raising questions about whether all these procedures are medically necessary.