BACKGROUND: An increasing number of patients undergo repeat abdominal surgery during their lifetime often, due to complications following initial laparotomy, and if not corrected, complications can lead to high morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to determine the clinical characteristics, etiological factors and outcome of relaparotomy. METHODS: A prospective study of 54 patients who underwent relaparatomy at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Mbarara, Uganda between the months of October 2018 to May 2019 was conducted. Data including demographics, initial diagnosis, initial surgery, indication of relaparotomy, time interval between primary surgery and re-operation and outcome was collected and analyzed.