At least 17 women have been killed in Nansana Municipality and Katabi Town Council on Entebbe Road between May and August. Knowing that sex workers have and could still be victims of this wave of violent crime, is police through community policing paying them to help fight crime?
Police spokesperson Asan Kasingye has in a press statement dated 25/08/2017 refuted a media story that said the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura “gave prostitutes, bodas cash to spy work”.
A local news daily on Friday reported that Kayihura gave 200 sex workers cash amounting to about 200,000/= each, after a meeting last Sunday.
Mr Kasingye, through the release, also says the public should not take as true claims that his boss ordered bar owners where sex workers operate to hire taxis to transport them to and fro work to ensure their safety.
“It is true that the IGP has been meeting residents especially women, children and youth in the areas of Nansana Municipality, and Katabi Town Council in Wakiso district in relation to murder of 17 women and girls that took place between 3rd of May and 18th August, 2017.” Kasingye said.
Kasingye explained that the meetings IGP Kayiruha holds are aimed at mitigating the risks especially sex workers and also business women and girls who leave early in the morning and come back home late from work or study, are likely to face.
“There is no doubt they have been the victims of the recent wave of violent crime that hit these two areas. He has also been addressing the unemployed or underemployed youth who are likely to be victims, criminals or used by wrong elements in society to commit criminal acts.” Kasingye said.
“As the police investigate these cases, the IGP has been emphasizing security measures aimed at enhancing popular vigilance , as well as increasing police visibility and effectiveness so as to protect the vulnerable communities.” He said.
“The IGP has however, emphasized that to decisively deal with the problem of crime, in these communities, we have to go beyond the above measures and address the environment which allows criminal gang to operate by initiating empowerment programmes that focus on social problems that create an environment in which crime and other anti-social behavior thrive. For-example, we have linked those in risky businesses such as sex workers with Operation [Wealth] Creation (OWC) government programme.” Kasingye added.
Public reaction to media story
Before this release, a few Ugandans had supported the report citing similar movements in Rwanda, where community policing committees working with former sex workers have enabled them to quit prostitution and rehabilitate themselves into society.
At the same time, many urged, ‘compliant’ sex workers have proven to be valuable sources of information in crime prevention and indictment of criminals.
Critics on the other hand state that prostitution is illegal under the penal code act and anyone who is found guilty should be charged and arrested.
By Paul Dennis.
