THE FATBOY SHOW : Proposal to Decriminalize Prostitution Divides Parliament.

Members of Parliament on the Joint Committee of Legal and Gender Affairs have rejected a proposal to maintain prostitution as a criminal offense in Uganda. Instead, some lawmakers advocated for legalizing, regulating, and taxing the trade.

The proposal to decriminalize prostitution was introduced by Fox Odoi (West Budama North East) during a debate on the Sexual Offences Bill 2024. The Bill, tabled by Anna Adeke (Soroti DWR), initially sought to uphold the criminalization of prostitution while expanding its scope to include male sex workers.

"I strongly feel we should legalize prostitution, regulate the sector, promote it, and generate revenue from it. For us as legislators, our role is not morality—that's for reverends, canons, and clergy," argued Odoi.

Odoi's remarks followed Adeke's request to the Committee to consider removing clauses 13 and 14 of the Bill. These clauses proposed a two-year jail term for individuals convicted of engaging in prostitution and similar penalties for clients of sex workers.

Adeke explained: "My consultations were challenging—some people wanted the provisions to remain. I personally thought we should repeal them entirely. The only change we made was to make the law gender-neutral, recognizing that prostitution involves both men and women."

Henry Nkwasiibwe (Ruhaama County) supported Odoi's proposal, calling on the government to designate specific zones for sex work and begin taxing the trade. He described prostitution as a growing, untapped industry.

"Prostitution is not going anywhere. The more we prohibit it, the more it increases. We should legalize and regulate it, designate areas for the trade, and earn revenue. It's a growing industry that remains untaxed," said Nkwasiibwe.

He argued that efforts to criminalize prostitution are futile, citing its persistence throughout history: "Even during Jesus Christ's time, prostitution existed. It has flourished for centuries, and we cannot stop it. Let's embrace it and stop fighting a losing battle."

However, other MPs, including Margaret Rwabushaija (Workers Representative), opposed decriminalizing prostitution, warning it could encourage more people to join the trade.

"I don't support letting it go unchecked. If we remove restrictions, we risk destroying the moral fabric of the country. As mothers, we are concerned about the implications, including issues like rape and child abuse. While we shouldn't kill [sex workers], there must be restrictions," Rwabushaija said.

The debate highlighted deep divisions among legislators, with some advocating for pragmatic solutions to regulate the trade, while others warned of moral and societal risks. The Committee is expected to continue deliberating on the contentious clauses of the Bill.