By Aggrey Baba
Just like coffee and other sectors, sperm donation is quietly becoming a growing industry in Uganda, with young men increasingly turning to it as a source of income.
Fertility clinics in Kampala are seeing a steady rise in donors, some receiving up to UGX 500,000 per donation, but the absence of government regulation is raising concerns among medical professionals and policymakers.
A 28-year-old youth has donated sperm six times at a private fertility clinic. While he acknowledges the financial benefit, he believes the industry needs oversight. “I would love to donate to other clinics, but some pay too little. The government should regulate this because recipients pay a lot,” he told journalist John Musenze.
Currently, Uganda has several private sperm banks, mostly in Kampala. However, the country’s two government-owned banks, at Mulago Hospital and Makerere University, are not yet operational. This has left the industry largely unregulated, with each fertility clinic setting its own policies on donor selection, payment, and sperm use.
Dr. Herbert Luswata, president of the Uganda Medical Association, warns that the lack of oversight puts both donors and recipients at risk. “There is no legal framework governing sperm donation in Uganda. This leaves room for ethical and financial exploitation,” he said.
The demand for sperm donors is increasing, with some clients coming from neighboring countries such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, DR Congo, China, and Eritrea, where fertility treatments are more expensive.
In Uganda, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) costs between UGX 25 million and UGX 38 million ($7,000–$10,000), making it out of reach for many local patients but a sought-after service for wealthier international clients.
Some Ugandan donors are now seeking better pay in Kenya, where sperm banks in Nairobi offer up to UGX 1.4 million ($400) per donation, significantly higher than what most Ugandan clinics provide.
Beyond financial concerns, medical experts warn that unregulated sperm donation could lead to genetic risks, including consanguinity, where biological siblings unknowingly meet and marry. “In other countries, there are strict donor limits to prevent this, but in Uganda, there are no such restrictions,” said Dr. Tony Kavira, a fertility expert at Mulago Hospital.
To address these concerns, Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Opendi is working on the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, which seeks to regulate sperm donation and other fertility treatments. However, the bill has faced delays, with the government requesting further input from the health ministry before it can be debated in Parliament.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission has also proposed raising the minimum age for sperm donors from 18 to 23 years, arguing that younger men may not fully understand the long-term implications of donation and could be financially exploited.
Despite the growing demand, sperm donation remains a sensitive topic in Uganda. Fertility clinics report an increase in male donors, with some receiving two to five applicants per month. However, cultural stigma and misinformation still discourage many men from participating.
“Some believe sperm donation affects their fertility or their identity as fathers, which is not true,” said Dr. Joseph Muhumuza, a gynecologist at Roswell Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
As sperm donation continues to grow in Uganda, experts and lawmakers agree that clear regulations are needed to protect both donors and recipients.
Without proper oversight, an industry meant to help families struggling with infertility could become a source of ethical and legal challenges. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
