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Market vendors dabbling in sex work

A growing number of market vendors in central Uganda have devised a means to stay afloat as tough times bite.

Women vendors operating in Gayaza market located in Wakiso district are now not only rolling up their sleeves but also stripping up to their birthday suits to make ends meet.

”We are creative women and the profits we get selling our wares in the market is very minimal and cannot cater to all our needs so we have another way of earning money.” One of the women vendors who sought anonymity opened up.

Apart from selling foodstuff in the market they also operate as sex workers in a nearby brothel adjacent to the market.

Welcome to Gayaza market where you can buy anything including sex

Gayaza market boosts over 1000 stalls and stocks all types of foodstuff for sale. Some of the foodstuff you won’t miss in the sprawling market include: bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, fresh maize, beans, green vegetables, charcoal, fish and meat. 80 per cent of the vendors here are women and  majority of them are single.

The market opens as early as 6.00am and closes at 8.00pm. When the clock hits 3.00 pm, however, most of women are usually through with their wares and those who wish to make a quick buck then cross over to the brothel to hawk sex.

Also Read: Sex sales: Here’s how much sex costs in these 5 African countries

Sex work has very good returns

One of the women who dabbles in sex work and didn’t want to be named said that on a good day in the market she makes a profit of UGsh15,000 which pales in comparison to what she earns selling sex.

”But when I go to the brothel after selling in the market I can get at least 4 clients at UGsh10,000 each and i end up making over 40,000 shillings.” she said.

So fruitful has their new venture turned out to be that nowadays some clients even approach the women while they are still selling their wares and they simply temporarily close their stalls and go to mind-blowing sex.

Some male vendors are now salivating over the women’s earning.

“The women we work with are more rich than most of us men because they make more money selling  sex than their stock.” Isah  Kizilingiri, a male vendor in the market said.

The only silver lining is that the male vendors can also not go far to buy sex since they simply approach the women whenever they want to play sex with any of them.

 

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