Leaders alarmed as sex workers flood Mbale

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A visit conducted by Daily Monitor found that some of the hotspots are Kigali bar, Nandudu and dark corridors behind KCB and Orient banks.

When it clocks 6pm, Ms Lydia Mbabazi * leaves her three children at her rented room in one of the suburbs of Mbale Town and heads to a local pub.
“I used to leave home at 8pm but nowadays, I leave early and reach here at about 6pm. I find some of my clients waiting for me,” she says.
Ms Mbabazi and other sex workers are flooding the streets, which is worrying local leaders.
A visit conducted by Daily Monitor found that some of the hotspots are Kigali bar, Nandudu and dark corridors behind KCB and Orient banks.
Others are stationed on Republic Street, Central Road, near North Road Primary School, Market place, Lorry Park, Manafwa Road and Cathedral Avenue.
Mr Yasin Kawanguzi, the municipal deputy speaker, said most sex workers are from western, northern and West Nile regions and Kenya.
“We are going to create a by-law to regulate sex workers because we will not allow this menace to continue untamed. We cannot move in the town with children when it clocks 8pm. They are everywhere,” he said.
Mr James Kutosi, the municipal council spokesperson, blamed the increasing number of sex workers on police laxity.
“Police officers and security guards collect money from prostitutes to allow them operate. This is what is fuelling it,” he said.
However, Mr Mutwalibi Zandya Mafabi, the municipality mayor, said prostitution is on rise because Mbale has become a city.
“People in town like sex workers and its part of tourism and a venue for local revenue. I advise the sex workers to start operating at 10pm,” Mr Zandya said.
Mr Robert Tukei, the Elgon region Police spokesperson, said they would soon conduct an operation to arrest all sex workers in the town.
“We shall take action. We are going to arrest and charge them accordingly,” he said.
Ms Lilian Nakawesi, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, said sex workers were causing insecurity in the town.