“There was a literacy gap within the sex workers community- many of these women could barely write their names. Some of them could not express themselves which made their advocacy very difficult. This program was therefore put in place to pass on the much needed formal education to WONETHA members. Even though we are sex workers, we need these skills for survival in this competitive world,” Ms. Natukunda explained.

My full concentration will now be on LGBTI activism that I have been involved in since 2002/03 when we started Spectrum Uganda Initiative. I am dedicating my time now is to re-integrating myself into the activism system that I was previously giving just a portion of myself.

“I am thankful for this program that WONETHA is implementing; I have gained very many skills and I’m sure they will help me in life. I never knew how to save money as I would spend all my earnings without proper planning. During the course, I started applying what I was being taught- I now own different plantations and I’m even employing a few people.,” Lydia, a beneficiary of the program said.

I appeal to all political leaders, both local and national, to make an effort to understand LGBTI people. They should have dialogues to enlighten themselves and receive the right information about gender and sexual minorities.

Apako Williams the Coordinator of Tranz Network Uganda informed the gathering that transgender persons in Uganda continue to live in an environment full of hate and stigma and are regarded by many as the face of homosexuality. Tranz Network Uganda hopes that that the outcomes of such dialogues will help policy makers to plan effectively for transgender people across the country.

“Arresting sex workers because someone was killed in a particular place will not solve the problem, let the police instead beef up security in the areas with where sex workers operate in order to curb these crimes ,”Naki told Kuchu Times

The evening session dubbed Lesbian and Bisexual night was held in one of the posh clubs around town; for a change, LGBTI persons gathered in one place, let loose, danced and partied the night away. The mood was ecstatic, the partiers energized; it was a night that will live in the memories of those in attendance for quite a while. For one night, all troubles faded away, issues of class and status were thrown out the window and Uganda’s gender and sexual minorities merged as one.

First of all, I can barely believe how much the movement has grown; one of the biggest challenges we have always faced is the wide spread lie that activists are out to recruit people into homosexuality. I did not think that so many people would be brave enough to embrace who they are with such negativity surrounding us.

I was elected and selected by all the constituencies that make up key populations. Because I am a sex worker, my clients have been long distance truck drivers and fisher folks; I am therefore well versed with issues that affect most of these groups. I am also a bisexual woman meaning that I understand what it means to be a sexual minority .