KCCA concerned street prostitution is on rise in Kampala

While giving an address during a workshop at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi themed Reducing poverty among the urban por in urban areas, Asia Kinaabi, the Parish Development Model (PDM) coordinator at KCCA, said the authority is facing a challenge of the ever-increasing number of unemployed women and youth who are opting for sex work in search for money.

“We are faced with the challenge of unemployed women and youth that are overwhelming. Sex workers are increasing, we are trying to find ways on to convert these numbers into another trade,” she said.

Kinaabi said many women in areas such as Kisenyi are engaging in sex work for as low as sh3000, which, according to her, is degrading of their bodies yet they continue to see the practice as an economic activity.

She added that sex work in Kampala was proving to be a challenge to the implementation of the PDM in Kampala.

“People get money and spend it recklessly yet it should a revolving fund,” she said.

Prostitution under the law is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment for seven years, according to section 136 of the Penal Code Act.

The workshop, which was attended by political leaders, researchers, members of the academia, government officials and development partners sought to evaluate the effectiveness and inclusiveness of PDM in Kampala.

PDM is Government of Uganda’s latest programme launched by President Museveni with an aim of alleviating poverty among 3.5 million households in the country. The programme aims to lift about 17.5 million people out of poverty.