Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number five commits countries to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio. Other than a reduction in maternal mortality, MDGs commit countries to ensure that women have universal access to reproductive health. Although more women are receiving antenatal care, there are inequalities in care during pregnancy with only one in three rural women in developing regions receiving the recommended care during pregnancy. Culture has been one of the sidelined aspects in the fight against maternal and child mortality. Therefore, World Health Organization in collaboration with Uganda Christian University undertook a women’s empowerment project for improved maternal health in the districts of Gulu, Kotido and Moroto. The premise for the project was the assumption that the realization of improved maternal and newborn health is highly dependent on the maternal health practices of the individual women, their families and communities, influenced by socio-economic variables including culture and traditions. Therefore, managing the socio-economic determinants of maternal health including culture and traditions is an important means to reducing the gap between the community and the skilled health personnel. This paper presents the outcomes of this project and argues that increased maternal health outcomes are likely to occur if negative cultural practices are addressed and the gap between the community and the health facility is bridged through creating processes of an interface between the health facility and community.