Uganda Urged to Consider Tanzania's Law Against Sexual Corruption

A recent study in Uganda revealed that at least one in ten respondents knew of a case where a teacher or school official had offered a child good grades or a pass in exchange for sexual favors. This form of corruption, known as sextortion, remains largely unaddressed by the country's criminal justice system. The findings highlight the need for Uganda to consider legislation similar to Tanzania's law against sexual corruption.

The study, commissioned by the Inspectorate of Government, found that 10 percent of respondents had heard of a teacher or school official proposing sexual favors to a child in exchange for educational benefits. This problem is not confined to schools, as research in Uganda's public health sector has documented supervisors demanding sexual favors in exchange for favorable job evaluations, promotions, and salary increases.

Lawyer and human rights activist Patricia Munabi argues that Uganda needs to amend its legislation to expressly criminalize sextortion and establish specific penalties for perpetrators. She notes that the absence of explicit provisions in existing laws has made it difficult to effectively punish people who abuse their positions of authority to demand sexual favors.

The Economic Policy Research Centre identified education, employment, and access to government services as areas where sextortion occurs. In education, female students may be subjected to demands for sexual favors by teachers who withhold or deliberately under-mark their examination results. In employment, women seeking jobs or already in service may face similar demands from employers controlling recruitment, promotion, or other benefits.

The consequences of sextortion extend beyond the immediate exploitation. Victims may accumulate retakes, delay completion of their courses, or abandon school. In employment, some women may give up job searches or leave workplaces where they face sexual demands. Evidence from Makerere University illustrates the problem, with 80 percent of those interviewed aware of sexual exploitation, including arrangements in which lecturers exchanged marks for sexual favors.

A report by Daily Monitor documented complaints by female graduates in northern Uganda who accused prospective employers of demanding sexual favors before offering them jobs. One graduate, Collin Adongo, said she had been asked for sex on three occasions, the latest by a senior official at a public university in Lira.

Munabi emphasizes that legislation must target those who abuse their authority rather than punish people who submit to sexual demands. She also notes that lawmakers must carefully consider the evidential requirements for prosecuting sexual corruption, as victims often face difficulties producing evidence.

Key points

• Uganda lacks specific laws against sexual corruption, despite evidence of its prevalence in education, employment, and public services.
• The country's legislation should expressly criminalize sextortion and establish specific penalties for perpetrators.
• Lawmakers must carefully consider the evidential requirements for prosecuting sexual corruption to ensure effective prosecution.