Teenage sex workers flood Moroto
Authorities in Moroto Municipality are concerned about the rising number of teenage girls ditching school for prostitution.
In recent months, girls dressed in semi-nude attire are often spotted fearlessly parading on the streets of the remote area, desperate to sell their underage goodies.
The trade has been going on with little or no attention from parents or community members.
The Mayor of Moroto Municipality, Mohamed Ismail, says that there are many girls aged 14 years and above involved in the practice, making it a huge concern for local leaders.
“Most of these girls are total orphans, others have both parents but they have left their homes for commercial sex work in the Municipality, which is so dangerous,” he said.
He wants development partners operating in Moroto Municipality to intervene and do massive sensitisation to encourage the girls to return to school.
Teenage sex workers flood Moroto
Mary Nachap, the Moroto Municipal Deputy Mayor, says that she is equally disturbed that some mothers are using the young girls to get money to provide for the needs of the family.
“These girls come for casual labour in town but they end up becoming commercial sex workers,” she said. Nachap says that they will soon start door-to-door operations in the town to arrest those employing teenage children as their house helpers instead of sending them to school.
Simon Korobe, the chairperson of the Moroto Boda boda Association blames the problem on the high-cost of living. “It is poverty driving our girls to participate in these dangerous activities. How I wish the government could come up with a programme of supporting the girls to go back to school,” he said.
