Museveni proposes special SACCO to help sex workers exit the trade

• Museveni proposed a special SACCO fund to help commercial sex workers transition into lawful income-generating activities.

• The fund will be voluntary and focused on rehabilitation, not promoting prostitution.

• The initiative aims to reduce exploitation, violence, and economic vulnerability among women.

President Yoweri Museveni has proposed a special revolving fund aimed at helping commercial sex workers voluntarily leave the trade and transition into alternative livelihoods. The proposal was made during his engagement with mechanics and garage operators at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, where the venue was filled with participants from Kampala’s five divisions as well as Wakiso, Mukono, Mpigi, and surrounding areas.

While addressing the gathering, Museveni revealed that the government is considering creating a SACCO-style revolving fund, similar to the Parish Development Model (PDM), specifically targeting vulnerable groups, including women working in garages and commercial sex workers. The fund would not be intended to promote prostitution, which remains illegal in Uganda, but rather to support rehabilitation and economic empowerment.

According to the President, the proposed fund would be accessed voluntarily by individuals who are willing to abandon sex work and pursue other skills or businesses. Beneficiaries would be expected to identify alternative income-generating activities they are capable of doing, with the financial support helping them restart their lives outside the trade.

Museveni acknowledged the many risks and challenges faced by commercial sex workers, including exploitation, violence, and lack of legal protection. He noted that because the activity is illegal, many victims are unable to report abuse or unfair treatment, making them easy targets for mistreatment.

The President emphasized that offering economic alternatives is a more sustainable solution than arrests or forceful crackdowns. He argued that empowering women financially would reduce vulnerability and help them integrate into lawful and productive work.

If successfully implemented, the revolving fund could grow over time, potentially expanding to support more beneficiaries. The initiative has been framed as a social and economic intervention aimed at restoring dignity, safety, and opportunity for women willing to leave sex work behind.