By Online Team

8^th April 2013:

Uganda has emerged as the leading ‘exporter’ of female sex workers who ply their ancient trade in the South Sudan capital, Juba.  According to a study whose findings were reported by the online Sudanese publication called Gurtong, at least 45% of all the prostitutes working in Juba were found to be Ugandans.

The “Mapping Report of Female Sex Workers in South Sudan, Phase 1, 2012” is the product of a study that was jointly conducted by the South Sudan Ministry of Health, South Sudan Aids Commission, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The study found that apart from Ugandans who lead the way with 45%, Kenyan prostitutes constitute 27%, Eritrean prostitutes take 10%, South Sudan and DR Congo prostitutes take 8%, and Ethiopian and others trail with 1% “market share” in Juba.

However, in other parts of South Sudan like Yambio and Western Equatoria, South Sudanese prostitutes were founding to be leading with a presence of approximately 45.2% followed by Congolese with 29%.

In Juba, approximately half of the prostitutes (38.4%) were either single, divorced, widowed or separated, while 5.3% were currently married and 4.2% were cohabiting.  Similarly in Yambio 58.4% were single, and 30.4% were divorced, widowed or separated.

The report presents findings of the first phase of a comprehensive study to provide accurate information on the size and characteristics of sex workers in South Sudan carried out in the two capitals of Juba and Yambio.

While this report only represents the first phase of the mapping study, in the third phase, data collected will be used to develop national estimates of Female Sex Workers (FSW) in South Sudan and provide the program with a strategic direction for planning targeted interventions.

According Hon. Esterino Novello, the Chairperson of the South Sudan Aids Commission, the data collected will also be used for planning and policy formulation.  END: Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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