Mandatory Pregnancy Testing in Uganda: Constitutional and Human Rights Implications

Abstract This article examines the constitutional and human rights implications of mandatory pregnancy testing in Ugandan schools. Using a doctrinal legal approach, it analyses the practice through the lens of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, regional and international human rights instruments, as well as relevant case law. The article argues that mandatory pregnancy testing and the expulsion of pregnant students infringe on the rights to privacy, non-discrimination, dignity and education. It further maintains that the gendered nature of the practices systematically targets girls, reinforcing harmful cultural norms and institutionalizing educational exclusion. Through a comparative analysis of jurisprudence from East, West and southern Africa, the article demonstrates that such practices fail to meet constitutional standards. It concludes by calling for the abolition of mandatory pregnancy testing, the adoption of inclusive policies that support pregnant learners and the urgent need for legal reforms to align Uganda’s education system with its human rights obligations.