Every year, thousands of women across Uganda walk into government hospitals to give birth.
But despite National Medical Stores’ (NMS) guarantee that Mama Kits are free of charge, disturbing reports continue to emerge: mothers being asked to pay for gloves, cotton wool, razor blades, or soap.
This is more than just a public service issue—it is a human rights concern. The government provides Mama Kits for a reason: to save lives, reduce maternal and neonatal deaths, and increase safe deliveries in health facilities.
A Mama Kit, in its basic form, contains gauze, cotton wool, five pairs of surgical gloves, a razor blade, umbilical tape, a plastic sheet (kavera), and bathing soap.
These are simple items, but without them, a safe and sterile delivery can be difficult or impossible. In remote health centers, the presence—or absence—of this kit can mean the difference between life and death.
So why are some mothers still being charged?
The problem lies in leakage and poor supervision. Despite the kits being supplied in full, the items are hoarded or diverted—either for resale or as a means to solicit bribes.
“We are told there’s a shortage and we must buy our own gloves or soap,” said Justine Nankya, a mother in Mukono. “But later you hear someone sold a kit at a drug shop in town.”
This practice undermines public trust and deters women from delivering in health centers.
According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS), while 74% of women now deliver in facilities, that number could be even higher if informal charges were eliminated.
NMS has emphasized that Mama Kits are free, not optional.
“They are not for sale,” said Sheila Nduhukire, the agency’s public relations officer.
But enforcement is weak. Communities often don’t know how or where to report such abuse. Local leaders—LCs, RDCs, DHOs—must rise to the challenge.
Clear guidelines on patient rights should be displayed at every maternity ward. Hotlines must be active. Whistleblowers protected.
The author is a medic in Nakapiripirit
