KAMPALA, Uganda – On Monday, November 25th, sex workers from across Uganda gathered at an event organized by the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC), a sex work-led organization, to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The event provided a platform for sex workers to share their harrowing experiences and highlight the need for policy reforms to protect their rights. The stories shared were a stark reminder of the alarming rates of violence against women and girls in Uganda.
According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2016), 56% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Furthermore, the Uganda Police Force’s Crime Report (2020) indicates that 7,168 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2020 alone.
For sex workers, the situation is even more dire. A study by the Uganda Network for Sex Workers (2018) found that 75% of sex workers had experienced physical violence, while 63% had experienced sexual violence.
Ms. Abobo a deaf sex worker, says she faces numerous challenges, particularly when dealing with law enforcement. She explains that when her colleagues and herself experience abuse, theft, or assault at their workplaces, reporting these incidents to the police often proves futile.
“Due to our limited literacy skills, we’re frequently asked to write down our complaints, which is impossible for those of us who cannot write. Furthermore, the police typically instruct us to apprehend the perpetrators ourselves and bring them to the station. As a woman, I find it unrealistic and intimidating to be expected to arrest a man by myself.”
“In one instance, I fell victim to theft when someone broke into my room while I was asleep and stole my money. When I reported the incident to the police, they requested that I provide a written statement, which I couldn’t do. It’s disheartening to feel that the police only assist those who have the means to pay,” she narrated.
Abobo notes that the police have often claimed that they lack language interpreters to facilitate communication in cases involving deaf individuals like herself. “This significant barrier to justice leaves many of us feeling marginalized and disenfranchised.”
Teddy, another sex worker, decried stigma and discrimination that they face.
“Despite our efforts to defend our colleagues and advocate for our rights, we’re often met with backlash, ridicule, and abuse. The fact that sex work remains illegal in Uganda only exacerbates our situation, making it even more challenging for us to access justice.”
According to Teddy, even when they try to hold perpetrators accountable for violating their rights, they are often blocked by political officials who refuse to acknowledge their plight. “This lack of support and protection leaves us feeling vulnerable and disenfranchised.”
As the only paralegal in the entire Kitgum district, Teddy is overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases that require her attention.
“Unfortunately, I often lack the necessary knowledge and skills to handle these cases effectively. This highlights the urgent need for capacity building and training to ensure that we’re equipped to provide the best possible support to our community.”
Another female sex worker living on Kalangala island, shares a harrowing unique challenges in accessing essential healthcare services, particularly when it comes to HIV/AIDS treatment.
“The distance between our island and the nearest health facility, where we can obtain our life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), is a significant barrier.”
“Consequently, we often struggle to maintain a stable supply of our medication, which can have devastating consequences. At times, we’re forced to share our medication, which is not only unsafe but also undermines our ability to manage our condition effectively,” she said.
Tragically, she stressed that the lack of access to healthcare services has already claimed the lives of many of her colleagues. “Some have been killed, and their bodies have been callously discarded in the water, with no justice or accountability.”
Despite the fact that ARVs are technically free, she says the reality is that they’re often unavailable to us due to logistical challenges.
“We urgently need support to address these systemic barriers and ensure that we can access the healthcare services we need to survive.”
Ms. Immaculate Owomugisha, Executive Director of the Centre for Human Justice Uganda and Board Chair, AWAC, emphasized that the challenges faced by sex workers in Uganda underscore the need for urgent action.
“The numerous difficulties sex workers encounter, including stigma, discrimination, and limited access to HIV/AIDS medication, are stark reminders that our country still has a long way to go in addressing these issues,” Owomugisha noted.
She attributed the mistreatment of sex workers to the fact that sex work remains criminalized in Uganda. “This criminalization perpetuates the stigma and discrimination that sex workers face, making it even more challenging for them to access essential services.”
To address these challenges, she advocated for the repeal of laws that criminalize sex work. “Additionally, we need to reassess how we prioritize issues affecting sex workers, particularly in terms of accessing government resources.”
Owomugisha pointed out that various government programs, such as Emyooga, the Parish Development Model, and the GROW Program, have stringent requirements that are often inaccessible to sex workers. “For instance, the requirement for land titles is a significant barrier, not just for sex workers but also for many women in general,” she observed.
She also highlighted the need for more flexible and mobile healthcare services, particularly for sex workers who may be mobile themselves.
“The fact that some sex workers are forced to share ARVs due to lack of access is alarming and can have serious consequences for their health.”
Ms. Kyomya Macklean, Executive Director of AWAC, shared a personal testimony of the devastating impact of systemic violence and stigma against sex workers.
“We were previously evicted from our rental residence simply because our landlord deemed it immoral to have sex workers as tenants.”
Macklean emphasized the need for collective action to address the systemic violence faced by sex workers. “Unless we stand united and fight against this systemic violence, we will not achieve our goals.”
The event also marked the launch of AWAC’s phase two resource mobilization campaign to raise approximately 1.35 billion shillings to complete the ground and first floors of their new building.
As Uganda joins the global community in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the stories shared by these sex workers serve as a poignant reminder of the need for urgent action to address the systemic violence and discrimination faced by sex workers in Uganda.
