The Chairperson of a local Non-Governmental Organization operating in Kampala last week made a moving revelation when he revealed that prostitutes pay tithes.
Rev. Canon. Gideon Byamugisha is the Chairperson of Uganet. During an engagement with prostitutes under Uganda Network of Key Populations Service Organization, an organization that brings together prostitutes, Byamugisha said there is a need to understand what drives sex workers into prostitution.
Byamugisha said some religious leaders would be very happy to relate with prostitutes because they pay tithes.
The organization last week convened its members in Kampala to discuss among others, issues of accountability.
Moses Devine Tumusiime, the Programme Officer of the organization while speaking the symposium of sexual reproductive health and HIV/Aids said that sex workers are not convinced with what NGOs are doing for them.
According to Tumusiime, sex workers in urban centres face gender and sexual violence while those in rural areas need lubricants and contraceptives which he says are in hard to reach health facilities.
To this, he wants NGOs to be transparent and accountable to sex workers.
Prostitution in Uganda is illegal according to Uganda’s 1950 Penal Code, but is widespread despite this. Many turn to prostitution because of poverty and lack of other opportunities. A study of Kampala teachers in 2008 showed that teachers were turning to prostitution to increase their income. A sex worker can earn around USh.1.5 million/= per month. There are many Kenyan prostitutes in the country.
