Sex Workers Petition MPs
Jun 25, 2003
SEX workers have petitioned Parliament to review the law for the offence of being “idle and disorderlyâ€, which they said the Police use to arrest and charge them, writes <b>John Kakande.</b>
SEX workers have petitioned Parliament to review the law for the offence of being “idle and disorderlyâ€, which they said the Police use to arrest and charge them, writes John Kakande.
MP Dora Byamukama, the new Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, told members yesterday that she had received communication from the Speaker of Parliament on the petition.
According to Section 162 of the Penal Code Act, a prostitute who commits the offence of being idle and disorderly is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for seven years.
There have been suggestions in favour of legalising prostitution.
“The sex workers want Parliament to look at the law for idle and disorderly,†Byamukama told the members, who included MPs Aggrey Awori, Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, Sam Lyomoki, Tom Kayongo and Alex Ndeezi.
The committee had earlier received a briefing on the pending business from its former chairperson, Adolf Mwesigye, who was recently appointed Minister of State in the office of the Vice-President.
Byamukama said the committee would interview the sex workers in camera and subsequently give a legal opinion.
Ends
MP Dora Byamukama, the new Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, told members yesterday that she had received communication from the Speaker of Parliament on the petition.
According to Section 162 of the Penal Code Act, a prostitute who commits the offence of being idle and disorderly is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for seven years.
There have been suggestions in favour of legalising prostitution.
“The sex workers want Parliament to look at the law for idle and disorderly,†Byamukama told the members, who included MPs Aggrey Awori, Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, Sam Lyomoki, Tom Kayongo and Alex Ndeezi.
The committee had earlier received a briefing on the pending business from its former chairperson, Adolf Mwesigye, who was recently appointed Minister of State in the office of the Vice-President.
Byamukama said the committee would interview the sex workers in camera and subsequently give a legal opinion.
Ends