CAUSES OF PROSTITUTION IN UGANDA

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