MP Fox Odoi Pushes for Legalization of Prostitution in Uganda

Summary:

• MP Odoi argues that formalizing the sector could generate significant revenue for the government while shifting the moral debate to religious leaders.

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KAMPALA: The West Budama North East Member of Parliament, Hon. Fox Odoi, has sparked debate after proposing the legalization, regulation, and taxation of prostitution in Uganda.

MP Odoi argues that formalizing the sector could generate significant revenue for the government while shifting the moral debate to religious leaders.

“I strongly feel we should legalize prostitution. We should regulate that sector, promote it, and make some money from it. For us as legislators, our forte isn’t morality. Morality is for the reverends, canons, and the Fathers,” Odoi said.

Odoi’s remarks came in response to a proposal by Hon. Anna Adeke (Soroti District Woman Representative) in the Sexual Offences Bill 2024. Adeke had suggested maintaining prostitution as a criminal offense, proposing a two-year jail term for offenders and anyone engaging in sexual acts with prostitutes.

However, Adeke also expressed reservations about her own proposal, noting the difficulty of balancing perspectives.

“My consultations were very difficult. Some people wanted [the clauses] to stay. I, for one, thought we would repeal it and take it out. The only difference is that we made it gender-neutral because it isn’t only women who engage in prostitution; there are also male prostitutes,” Adeke said.

MPs Reject Criminalization, Call for Regulation:

Members of Parliament on the Joint Committee of Legal and Gender have largely rejected the criminalization of prostitution. Instead, they called on the government to regulate the industry and start collecting taxes from sex workers.

During the committee’s deliberations on the Sexual Offences Bill 2024, Odoi advocated for removing provisions criminalizing prostitution, arguing they unfairly target a marginalized group while failing to address broader societal issues.

Debate on HIV and Aggravated Rape
The committee also rejected a proposal by Adeke to include the intentional spreading of HIV to minors as a ground for aggravated rape. Fox Odoi led the opposition, citing concerns about stigma and the difficulty of proving such cases.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appeared before us and pleaded with us to repeal the HIV Control and Prevention Act simply because it stigmatizes people. Being HIV positive must not be an aggravating circumstance,” Odoi said.

He added, “It is practically impossible to prove knowledge of an offender’s status. Many people aren’t on ARV treatment but have HIV. So, after testing, they may turn out HIV positive, yet it doesn’t mean they knowingly transmitted the virus.”

Opposition to the Death Penalty for Rapists:

Odoi also criticized Adeke’s proposal to include the death penalty as a punishment for rapists, arguing that it is overly punitive. He questioned why such a penalty would be applied to rape while more severe crimes like mass murder and genocide do not carry the same punishment.

“In principle, I don’t support the death penalty for any offense. As a country, I thought we had moved away from this position. I expected this law to propose doing away with the death penalty for all offenses,” he stated.

The Sexual Offences Bill 2024 continues to generate heated debate in Parliament, with legislators divided on how to address sensitive issues like prostitution, HIV transmission, and penalties for sexual crimes.