Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment in Kampala Workplaces: Dark Secrets Fresh Graduates Must Know

Courtesy Photo: Depressed Adult

Attention, fresh graduates! If you live in Kampala and have never wrapped your head around the real meaning of the Kampala Ssi Bizimbe clique, you are without doubt in the wrong city! Try Fort Portal.

In Kampala life moves at the speed of light and opportunities seem as scarce as a virgin; and believe me you, there is a very dark side to the city that’s only for the curious to know. The streets of this vibrant city are not just filled with the hustle of commerce but are also shadowed by the grim realities of sexual exploitation and coercion in workplaces. Landing that job might take a little more effort than the normal—you might need to appease a few appetites here and there. Sexually.

So where does the story begin? Quick answer: poverty—and her younger sister, broke-ness. These two tigresses are the unsung villains in this city that everyone is trying to evade using their own—as the Jamaican might love to call it—style and fashion. They push many into corners of temptation and evil where choices are slim and desperation is a constant companion. In this city, the struggle for the next meal and rent often dictates life’s trajectory. “You gotta do what you gotta do,” a Burton Street sex worker, for instance, will put it. We listen, we don’t judge, don’t we?

Don’t be tempted, however, to think that it’s only on the streets where commercial sex is happening, silly. Even the whitest-collar jobs—executive this or executive that, are unfortunately soiled; they nowadays require sexual tickets to usher one into their niche. Else, keep dreaming. That fancy office position and dream career might require you to pull down pants for someone or a few more people, or oblige to be someone’s office mistress and, in worst cases, accept to be mounted by that hairy gay boss, even if you are 100 per cent straight, despite the law of the land. This cancer in the work environment is steadily breeding a culture where sex exploitation becomes not just an option but often the only perceived way out.

In such a setting, manipulation is the name of the game. Employers might offer ‘favours’ under the guise of helping out, only for it to become a trap. “They promise you a nice promotion, a salary increase or protection,” says a young woman in her mid-twenties, working in a prestigious resort hotel in Kabalagala, herself a victim, “but what they really want is a piece of your cake, if you know what I mean.” Here, sexual favours become currency, where the price of job security or promotion is measured in intimacy rather than merit.

‘My female boss, a headmistress asked me to drive her to an out-of-town workshop for a week,’ narrates Rogers, a teacher. ‘Although there would be a driver at her disposal she chose to travel with me. She said I am young and energetic. That night we checked into a hotel, but she preferred a room next to mine. All through our stay she kept flashing her naked body at me suggestively, a move I resisted hard. Long story short, I was fired a few weeks later.’

As said earlier, the narrative isn’t limited to straight scenarios. There is a growing tendency of homosexuality that even the elderly elite—the sirs and madams of this land, are adopting into their lifestyle. Hon. X, for instance, happily married to a beautiful wife with 4 children, will discretely rent an apartment in, say, Bulindo Kira, and turn it into something in the likeness of a brothel where he performs and causes to be performed onto, by his choicest junior male employees, some of the most unspeakable abominations that beautiful wife can never perform.

Plainly stated, gay favours at the workplace are a now sneaky undercurrent, often hidden due to the legal implications surrounding homosexuality in Uganda. A young victim shared, with balloons of tears welling up in his eyes, “You think you’re just there to work, but then someone wants you to prove your loyalty in ways you never signed up for. He wants to sodomize you, to turn you into his loyal wife. It’s not fair.” This manipulation can be particularly insidious because it preys on fears of exposure and societal rejection, forcing individuals into compliance regardless of their sexual orientation. ‘With the global acceptance of homosexuality, the villain boss will manipulate you into thinking that feeling horrible about the act is backwardness since ‘the bazungu are doing it. Slowly you become super gay.’’

Imagine your son or brother, a hopeful employee, desperate for a breakthrough in life, being cornered by a boss—the only person who could make his dreams come true, sodomizes him, records him and threatens to reveal that private petty act unless he complies to stay discrete and continue pleasing him sexually. Sad.

That said, in order to navigate these treacherous waters, young people, employment in Kampala need to arm themselves with certain knowledge and resilience—hello, fresh graduates! Be very smart, street-smart. Understanding your rights, even if not fully enforced, can arm you with the confidence to push back against coercion. Know your worth, and don’t let anyone downgrade you to a commodity.

Moreover, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset can provide an escape route. Instead of waiting for opportunities that come with strings attached, young people should create their own. Be the architect of your own future.

Advocacy and awareness are essential. Speaking out can start to dismantle the culture of silence that shrouds these issues. Workshops, community talks, and social media platforms can amplify voices and educate peers on how to spot and avoid the traps of workplace exploitation.

In this city, where the sun rises and sets on the same streets that host both dreams and nightmares, understanding the game is just as important as playing it. It’s about recognizing when you’re being played or are about to be played, standing firm in your values, and striving for a life where your worth isn’t bartered. Learn to thrive, on your own terms.

By Mwesigwa Joshua

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Joshua Mwesigwa

Mwesigwa Joshua Buxton is an artiste, humor columnist, strategist writer and journalist who draws inspiration from the works of Barbara Kimenye, Timothy Bukumunhe, and Tom Rush. He focuses on writing on entertainment. His background includes collaboration with the Eastern Voice FM newsroom.

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