Prostitution (according to google) is
the practice of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. These sex
workers usually work in the night or evening hours in Uganda. They
have occupied the streets of Kampala though the
act of prostitution is illegal in Uganda. Prostitutes make a lot of
money (about One and a half millions a month, according to wikipedia) which has
attracted very many people into the act hence the big number. Prostitutes can
either be men or women though in Uganda the females have dominated
the industry. They (prostitutes) can be found on different streets and towns of
Kampala like William street, Speke road, Kabalagala, Wandegeya, Nateete to
mention but a few.
The act of prostitution is on rampant
increase in Uganda
because of different reasons though poverty is like the primary reason as to
why prostitutes are flocking the business. With the constantly increasing cost
of living and little or no increase in salaries of people in Uganda, the citizens
and non-citizens living in the country are working day and night at every cost
to add an income to what the earn to be able to survive with the current
situation so they engage into prostitution.
As if that is not enough, the high
taxes imposed on every single thing by the government, like the electricity,
water, transport and many more others, things that are needed by every one even
the most poor person in living on the land of Uganda has kept people into
poverty hence their turn to prostitution as their savior. Most disappointingly,
the poorest person and the richest person are all taxed the same amount of
money yet their incomes are the same. This has kept all the people in the
circles of poverty (mostly the ones living in the villages) so they step out of
their houses to find an income to survive in this hard world which does not go
as they expect so the poor people end up into prostitution since it is the
easiest business that does not need too much capital (the only capital being
oneself, time, confidence and commitment).
Poverty on the other hand has caused
desperate youths to see light in prostitution. The fact that these poor youths
do not have money to sustain them through out the fast growing economy of this
world, they end up running to prostitution to earn a living to try to catch up.
This has also increased the number of prostitutes on the streets and in the
towns of Uganda.
It is also arguable that poverty has
denied very people a chance of education in you Uganda. As people can not afford
the tuition and the school dues and other personal necessitates to walk the
path of education like any other lucky child, they end up dropping out on the
way or not even stepping onto school soil. This keeps them out of the struggles
and competition of jobs that could have helped them earn an income to survive
through. It is because of this poverty that these people join prostitution to
earn a living.
Poverty is not the only one to be
blamed for the existence and increase of prostitution in Uganda. There
are a couple of other reasons why prostitution has increased in or is
increasing in Uganda.
These are shared below;
The lazy action(s) of the government
upon the act(s) of prostitution has caused the existence and increase of the
practice in Uganda.
Despite the fact that prostitution is illegal in Uganda according to the law, the
government has not been able to arrest these sex workers but instead it has
gotten into negotiation with them to make their work easier. For example in
2003, the members of parliament met these sex workers to hear them out since
they complained to the parliament that the police was being a little harsh on
them by chasing them off the streets and arresting them. As if that is not
enough, even the arrested ones are just released since the law against
prostitution is not being enforced.
“An idol mind is the devil is
workshop”. The scarcity of jobs in the country has caused unemployment and it
is because of this unemployment that people living in the land have been left so
idol so they have ended up working as prostitutes to keep them busy and to earn
them an income.
Illiteracy among the people living in Uganda has
caused prostitution. It is because of this illiteracy that people are so
ignorant about the dangers of prostitution and on the other hand, it had caused
unemployment that people can not compete for jobs in the employment field. This
has pushed them in to prostitution.
Success of one person is an inspiration
to another person. The success and testimonies of some people working as sex
workers has caused others to run into prostitution hoping to gain the same or
even better. At times this works out so well or even better than expected or
some times it just back fires and the assumed heaven turns out to be hell on
earth
The poor up bring of children by very
unserious parents is also another cause of prostitution in Uganda. Parents
have neglected their children all in the name of “we are working hard” or some
go like, “we are too busy to sit with these children and listen to them”.
On the other hand, the love and very
high libido of sex among people has caused prostitution in Uganda. People
(prostitutes) in Uganda
join the business because they love sex and they think that if they can get
paid for something they love, it would be a super bonus to them. For example a
lady by the names of Rose, 21years that works along William street shocked one of our
members, Philip, when he had a short and quick interview with her on Thursday
June 19, 2014 when she told him that she gets paid for doing something she
likes just like these international soccer players.
In some societies
families sell children into prostitution. The child is honor bound to the
contract and prostitution is the main target of such sales. The movie about a
Geisha recently showed how this works in Japan. It is also the same
situation in Korea.
Immigrants to the USA
are often bound to repay the people who smuggle them across the border.
Drugs also
contribute to prostitution. It may be for some an attractive way to make a
living. I am sure it has its moments. But, probably in most of its forms it is
not the happiest of choices. I think the main effect is the violence associated
with it. In places where it is legal I don't know that this exists. It is big
money so gangsters take an interest in it. But for the case of Uganda where it is illegal, the
case is very difficult.
Anyways if we are to discuss causes
prostitution in Uganda,
we may end up agreeing that the primary cause of all this is poverty. I
therefore advice the government to come out work hand in hand with the people
and other organizations to fight poverty in Uganda. It will not only deal with
prostitution but also other immoral activities in the country.
References:
The
prostitutes along William street
Full
woman magazine, Nation Media
