Museveni gives Shs 100million boost to Mbale sex workers 

President Yoweri Museveni has extended support to the association of sex workers in Mbale.

Museveni promised yesterday, to provide Shs100 million to the prostitutes’ sacco in the border town.

At a rally in the town, the president was beseeched by local leaders to finance sex workers as one of the booming businesses in the area. 

Leaders informed the head-of-state that many young women in Mbale are earning a living through sex workers.

Hajjat Hadija Namyalo, who heads the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Kyambogo office said prostitutes in Mbale “make the majority of the female youths here and they have a lot of customers.”

“We are not embarrassed to ask you to support them because you are our grandfather,” she said.

“We ask that you support them as well because other people often bring you dubious SACCOs and you support them.”

Read: MP proposes legalising, taxing prostitution

Museveni in response asked for assurance on whether the prostitutes in Mbale have a genuine association that brings them together.

He proceeded to announce his support to the group.

"If you want support for your prostitution sacco, they can be supported,” he said.

“I will add them to the other Saccos. I will give them 100million,” he announced amid ululations.

Mbale is a known prostitution hotspot in the country with a worrying number of people in the business being children.

According to the Mbale District's HIV/AIDs Focal Point Person Robert Wandwasi, more than 20 per cent of children living in urban centres in the district are currently involved in commercial sex. 

The vice is common in other trading centres of Busiu, Bugema, Munkaaga, Nkoma, and Nakaloke, located along the highway and often used by long-distance truck drivers.

Wandwasi says a recent survey by the district health department established that about 10 per cent of young people in Mbale get involved in sex before the age of 15.