''Corporate prostitution'' on the rise
Dec 01, 2014
HIV/AIDS activists have quoted a new type of prostitution they term as “corporate prostitution”, where prostitutes do not line up on the streets, but have built a network of customers and have managers and a client list.
By John Agaba
HIV/AIDS activists have quoted a new type of prostitution they term as “corporate prostitution”, where prostitutes do not line up on the streets, but have built a network of customers and have managers and a client list.
They say it is on the rise in Uganda and is crippling the fight against HIV.
Today, Uganda joins the rest of the World in celebrating World AIDS Day. The national celebrations are in Fort Portal district, where President Yoweri Museveni is expected to be the guest of honour. “Getting to Zero: My responsibility” is the year’s theme.
AIDS activist Margaret Happy yesterday said: “They (corporate prostitutes) even have brokers who connect them to potential customers. And customers pay good money.”
The activists say complacency in behaviour is hampering the fight against the virus.
At a function organised by Childbirth Survival International (CSI) and Mildmay Uganda in Wakiso district, Rosemary Ssenyondo, a marriage counsellor with CSI, said:
“There is a lot of naivety among our girls. I do not know what causes it, but some girls who have completed university do not want to work. They want free things so they sleep with older, rich men. This is a big problem.”
She said such behaviour is contributing greatly to the spread of the virus.
According to latest UN Joint Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) statistics, Uganda is among the 15 countries contributing 75% of new infections in the world. The country is second in Africa, with South Africa contributing the most new infections.
Nigeria comes in the third position.
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