Reading Time: < 1 minute

Over 100 sex workers at Kinawataka trading center in the outskirts of Uganda’s capital Kampala have resolved to give back to the community by cleaning up the area surrounding where they operate.

The sex workers started by cleaning the area market and sweeping all the roadsides.

They also removed rubbish from public places, including the police post, schools, and community center. They later painted some public buildings including the police post.

Leaders, police laud their gesture

One of the local leaders, Ifrahim Nganda said, “It is good that sex workers have thought of giving back to the community. They surprised us by organizing themselves to clean most places in the trading area.”

He added that what surprised him was the painting of the police post.

“Can you imagine that they painted the buildings at the police post yet policemen usually harass them when they find them on the streets at night?”

A police officer at the police post, Ivan Okello said, “We appreciate what they have done. That shows they are kind and wish us well.”

They asked for recognition and protection

One of the leaders of the sex workers, Lorna Naduti said that they resolved to do so to show the world that they are normal people who became sex workers because they could not get jobs elsewhere.

“We are earning a living from selling our bodies and we request people not to think that we are hopeless.”

She requested the government to recognize their efforts to survive in a challenging world and police to stop harassing them.

1985