Ugandans, never accept legalised prostitution
RESEARCH has recorded civilisation as mainly based on male dominance and when it comes to prostitution, women are more affected than our counterparts. There is a small number of civilised societies that honour women. Thus women have not been able to achieve equal status with men in the past decades.
By Ema Were Belinda
RESEARCH has recorded civilisation as mainly based on male dominance and when it comes to prostitution, women are more affected than our counterparts. There is a small number of civilised societies that honour women. Thus women have not been able to achieve equal status with men in the past decades. In line with the vices that come with civilisation, some African countries have gladly embraced prostitution, and at one time there was a debate in Uganda on whether or not to legalise prostitution.
Jackie Selebi, South Africa’s National Police Commissioner, thinks that legalising prostitution and public drinking might be just the ticket to make the 2010 World Cup in South Africa a success. Studies indicate that HIV/Aids infection in South Africa there is exceptionally high, and the fastest growing in the World. This prevalence poses major challenges not only for South Africa but for the rest of us to think of ways to promote healthy sexual behaviour among ourselves.
While it is still debatable whether allowing prostitution could help Uganda, which I strongly believe will not, there is a group of Ugandans that is advocating the legalisation of this unheavenly behaviour. I would suggest a nationwide campaign to promote healthy sexual behaviour.
Many factors are attributed to the increasing acts of prostitution but the major one is linked to the opening up of the country to foreign values, mainly brought up by the media.
If Uganda is to successfully control the spread of HIV/AIDS, prostitution must be condemned. Why should we find pride in legalising vices from foreign cultures that are not helpful to us. Why should we legalise something that will not contribute to the shaping of morals?
Prostitution is a crime in Uganda. This brings about a clash of approaches when it comes to controlling HIV/AIDS in a sense that it is difficult for the Government to extend health services to prostitutes given that this is not an organised industry. The best option is to devise means that encourage women involved in prostitution to get out so they can be facilitated to enter other trades.
If possible, the authorities should engage experts to find out the real causes of prostitution and their probable solutions because ‘customers’ include married people.
legalising prostitution is not as simple as people may think. As years go by, Uganda can find herself in a situation that she can’t reverse. Take an example of UK where in 1971 a London-based newspaper, the International Times, was found liable by court for conspiracy to corrupt public morals after publishing advertisements from prostitutes.
The newspaper's crime was having run personal advertisements for gay men. The House of Lords ruled that while prostitution may be legal, public encouragement of the act is not. The newspaper closed down as a result.
There are many magazines which carry advertisements top male escorts by displaying their erections and their price. Is this what Ugandans want to see in our local magazines in the generations to come?
It would be very difficult to find a jury in the UK today willing to convict anybody for gay personal or escort advertisement. Prostitution may be legal in the UK but publishing of such advertisements is an offence against public morals and decency but the jury decides not to take action. Uganda will not act differently. Let’s protect our values.
The writer works with the Uganda Media Centre
RESEARCH has recorded civilisation as mainly based on male dominance and when it comes to prostitution, women are more affected than our counterparts. There is a small number of civilised societies that honour women. Thus women have not been able to achieve equal status with men in the past decades. In line with the vices that come with civilisation, some African countries have gladly embraced prostitution, and at one time there was a debate in Uganda on whether or not to legalise prostitution.
Jackie Selebi, South Africa’s National Police Commissioner, thinks that legalising prostitution and public drinking might be just the ticket to make the 2010 World Cup in South Africa a success. Studies indicate that HIV/Aids infection in South Africa there is exceptionally high, and the fastest growing in the World. This prevalence poses major challenges not only for South Africa but for the rest of us to think of ways to promote healthy sexual behaviour among ourselves.
While it is still debatable whether allowing prostitution could help Uganda, which I strongly believe will not, there is a group of Ugandans that is advocating the legalisation of this unheavenly behaviour. I would suggest a nationwide campaign to promote healthy sexual behaviour.
Many factors are attributed to the increasing acts of prostitution but the major one is linked to the opening up of the country to foreign values, mainly brought up by the media.
If Uganda is to successfully control the spread of HIV/AIDS, prostitution must be condemned. Why should we find pride in legalising vices from foreign cultures that are not helpful to us. Why should we legalise something that will not contribute to the shaping of morals?
Prostitution is a crime in Uganda. This brings about a clash of approaches when it comes to controlling HIV/AIDS in a sense that it is difficult for the Government to extend health services to prostitutes given that this is not an organised industry. The best option is to devise means that encourage women involved in prostitution to get out so they can be facilitated to enter other trades.
If possible, the authorities should engage experts to find out the real causes of prostitution and their probable solutions because ‘customers’ include married people.
legalising prostitution is not as simple as people may think. As years go by, Uganda can find herself in a situation that she can’t reverse. Take an example of UK where in 1971 a London-based newspaper, the International Times, was found liable by court for conspiracy to corrupt public morals after publishing advertisements from prostitutes.
The newspaper's crime was having run personal advertisements for gay men. The House of Lords ruled that while prostitution may be legal, public encouragement of the act is not. The newspaper closed down as a result.
There are many magazines which carry advertisements top male escorts by displaying their erections and their price. Is this what Ugandans want to see in our local magazines in the generations to come?
It would be very difficult to find a jury in the UK today willing to convict anybody for gay personal or escort advertisement. Prostitution may be legal in the UK but publishing of such advertisements is an offence against public morals and decency but the jury decides not to take action. Uganda will not act differently. Let’s protect our values.
The writer works with the Uganda Media Centre