A retrospective analysis of 969 elective hysterectomies performed at Tikur Anbessa teaching hospital from February 1992-October 2000 is presented. The objectives of the study were to outline the major indications, the frequencies of intraoperative and postoperative complications and the variations of these frequencies in the various types of hysterectomy, thereby providing data on this important gynaecologic operation in an Ethiopian hospital set-up. Elective hysterectomies accounted for 79.3% of all hysterectomies performed at the unit. There was a preference for the abdominal approach to hysterectomy (77.3%) with vaginal hysterectomy being done in only 22.7%. The three major indications for hysterectomy were leiomyoma 396/969 (41.1%), uterovaginal prolapse 221/969 (23%) and ovarian tumours 188/969 (19.5%). 567/969 (58.5%) of the patients had an underlying medical condition; anaemia being the commonest, accounting for 325/969 (33.5%). In 294/969 (30.2%) of the operations, intraoperative adhesions requiring adhesiolysis were encountered. A high proportion of intraoperative complications 167/969 (17.2%), and postoperative complications, 316/969 (32.6%), were found. Intraoperative haemorrhage rate 135/969 (14%) is significantly higher than reports from other series of hysterectomy. Postoperative febrile morbidity, 260/969 (27%), is also significantly higher than rates reported from other series. Unexplained fever was however lower, being responsible for only 20% of the febrile morbidity. There was a significantly increased risk of urinary tract infection in vaginal hysterectomies and unexplained fever in abdominal hysterectomy (P < 0.05). There is a need to use the vaginal approach to hysterectomy whenever feasible and introduce infection prevention protocols to reduce the high incidence of infection at the unit. Analytic studies to assess risk factors for haemorrhage and infection are required in order to devise preventive strategies.