By David Isabirye
Ritah Luggudde, 33, is a self-confessed sex worker based at Kigungu landing site in Entebbe Division B, Entebbe Municipality.
Luggudde, a mother of five is light skinned with a visible big dark scar on the upper left eye.
She boldly recollects how she sustained the scar in 2019 after a fight with a male “client” who insisted on having unprotected sex with her despite the early conscious to have protection at Ug.Shs 5000 per round.
Luggudde who openly declared her sero-status is among the over 50 sex workers gathered at a favela besides the landing site for an engaging talk by Family Medical Point (FMP) dubbed the “Musawo session”.
On the International World AIDS Day (1st December 2024), Family Medical Point in conjunction with Voices for Development and Safe Abortion Action Fund engaged this hitherto marginalized cluster of people during an interactive session.

“This business (as a sex worker) is risky but at times paying. We encounter so many problems especially when we find men who want to use force, those who do not pay, those who insert objects into our vaginas and those who hate to use protection during the act” Luggudde spoke to the experts during the session.
During and after this “Musawo session”, all emotions were expressed; the smiles, anger facial expression, depression and total agony with tears shed as the different commercial sex workers narrated their ordeal.
“I came to Kiggungu to visit my older sister and I found her engaging in this business. She earned money on a daily and this lured me to join her. It has been a roll coaster for me. Sometimes, I get money and other days are dry. Some men present tempting offers of money and ask for unprotected sex which is hard to resist.” Regina Nampijja, 26, reveals.

Molly Agwang, 37, has been into commercial sex work for a decade now. She boldly acknowledges the shortage of condoms and risks of getting infected with HIV as well as getting pregnant with men unknown to them.
“Here, the demand for condoms is high and overwhelming. So, some days, we do unprotected sex. This has exposed us to dangers of getting infected with sexually transmitted infections and unknown pregnancies. The risks of unsafe abortions are also high” Agwang who has two daughters and a son confesses.

Polyne Nabwire, the programs coordinator at Family Medical Point engaged these sex workers in an interactive session as they opened up with their different narrations.
“Family Medical Point is committed to advocating for the rights of marginalized groups, including sex workers, individuals with post-abortion challenges, and those residing in fishing communities. We have engaged most of them in Kiggungu, Kasenyi, Gudda and Nakiwogo” Nabwire revealed.
Moses Odongo, the Executive Director of Family Medical Point reveals the challenges that people in marginalized communities face as stigma, violence, and limited access to crucial health services.

Odongo, therefore points to workable solutions as these “Musawo sessions”.
“Such sessions offer a safe space for participants to openly discuss their experiences, challenges, and concerns related to their sexual and reproductive health. The endeavor to eradicate AIDS transcends medical statistics; it is a quest for justice, dignity, and equity. Together, let us embrace the right path toward a future where every individual can live a healthy and empowered life.” Odongo highlights.

Esther Juliet Apio, team leader at Voices for Health and Development echoed her voice aloud during the session on the access to essential resources, such as condoms, which is ironically troublesome.
“There is need for a call to action, we must address the structural barriers that hinder access to health services for marginalized populations as the sex workers especially at landing sites” Apio hinted.
On behalf Family Medical Point are a couple of Community Peer Mobilizers (CPM).

Rose Namirembe, is a CPM working in the Kiggungu zone and been able to bridge the gap with affluent mobilization skills.
Namirembe sings special praise of Family Medical Point’s services to the sex workers in Kiggungu.
“Family Medical Point has been quite resourceful towards the sex workers in Kiggungu. The Musawo sessions are beneficial and have helped to mitigate risks of infections and reinfections. The women (sex workers) are also able to make informed decisions. Now, on the World AIDS Day, we are happy to receive a delegation” Namirembe asserted.

Boxes of condoms (for male and female) and lubricants were freely given out to the sex workers.
There was also a session on how to efficiently utilize these gadgets as well as preaching of safe abortion means.

Family Medical Point’s (FMP) Musawo Sessions is a monthly community outreach program aimed atproviding health education, counseling, and support to marginalized communities, particularly Fishing Communities and Landing sites in Entebbe Municipality of Nakiwogo, Kasenyi, Gudda and Kiggungu.
The Sessions cover a range of topics, including HIV/AIDS prevention, condom use, and sexual and reproductive health rights.
The program also allows participants to receive free health check-ups, counseling, and referrals to health services.



By empowering marginalized communities with knowledge, skills, and support, FMP aims to promote healthy behaviors, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve the overall well-being of people living in marginalized communities.
According to the Uganda AIDS Commission, there are approximately 730 new HIV infections each week in Uganda.
Fishing communities experience an alarmingly high HIV prevalence rate of 22-28%, compared to the national average of 5.4%, according to the Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2020-2021.
