Health 28 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Nebbi District: 50% of Births Happen at Home Due to High Costs and Poor Roads
In Nebbi District, about half of all births occur at home because expectant mothers face steep transport fees, hidden hospital charges, and inaccessible roads, putting mothers and babies at risk. Officials are pushing community awareness to encourage facility deliveries. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/half-of-births-in-nebbi-occur-at-home-amid-cost-barriers-5439450
Expectant mothers in Nebbi District are increasingly giving birth at home due to financial barriers and logistical challenges, with data revealing that roughly 50 percent of deliveries last financial year took place outside health facilities.
High transport costs, especially on poor roads during rainy seasons, deter women from reaching hospitals. One mother, Judith Chikawun from Ndhew Sub-county, shared how she couldn’t afford a Shs70,000 boda boda ride from Pamaka Health Centre III to Nebbi General Hospital amid midnight labor and heavy rain.
Even though maternity services are supposed to be free, patients often must buy supplies like gloves and cotton wool, adding up to Shs60,000. Local leaders like councillor Gabby Yanijo point to midwife harassment, hidden fees, and ambulance charges of Shs70,000 to Shs100,000 in remote areas as major factors.
District Health Officer Justine Okwairwoth noted that bad roads make boda boda travel risky, with 109 home births recorded from July to December last year, mostly in Atego Sub-county. Community efforts, including Village Health Teams, aim to educate on dangers and boost facility use.
Health committee chair Charles Orwothwun warned that mothers sometimes deliver en route due to road conditions, calling it a ‘death trap.’ ActionAid’s Robert Kule urged better accountability in health and infrastructure services.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)