Commercial Sex Workers and Street Children Worry Oyam District Town Councils

24 April 2026, 4:39 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Commercial Sex Workers and Street Children Raise Concerns in Oyam District Town Councils

Investigations carried out over three months in Kamdini, Loro, Iceme, Minakulu, and Oyam town councils reveal that Kamdini is leading in cases of street children and sex workers, followed by Loro.

Speaking to our reporter, Sam Paul Ogwang Alunyo, the mayor of Kamdini town council, confirmed that the situation is worsening. He explained that despite earlier efforts to arrest offenders when he was still at the sub-county level, the numbers have increased. He noted that a gang group known as K29 was recently arrested for exploiting sex workers, charging them 2,000 shillings or more each night to operate. Currently, Kamdini has over 70 street children living and sleeping on its streets.

Ogwang Alunyo concluded that Kamdini is second to Lira City in the business of commercial sex work and in the presence of street children. He called on different stakeholders to intervene in order to curb these vices in Kamdini and the Lango sub-region at large.

In Loro town council, LC3 chairperson Robert Ekwaro confirmed that there are more than 30 street children, blaming parents for neglect. He added that women involved in selling young girls for sex are also many, calling for serious intervention. He promised to call an immediate meeting with stakeholders to address the issue, noting that after arresting the street children, authorities would trace their parents and clan heads (Awitong). He criticized clan leaders for seeking blood compensation when children are harmed, yet failing to take responsibility for their clan members’ children roaming the streets.

In Minakulu town council, LC3 chairperson Dariaous Okello Akol reported that street children aged 10–16 are common, though numbers are not yet estimated. He said most of them live without parents, often under the care of grandparents. However, sex work has not yet become a major issue in Minakulu.

In Iceme town council, LC3 chairperson Alfred Okello Obaro stated that there are no known street children, though sex workers may exist but are not operating openly on the roadside. He emphasized that the biggest challenge in Iceme is youth engaging in drug use, particularly Jai.

In Oyam town council, LC3 chairperson Stephanie Okello Marioshoni said the area is still safe from sex work and street children, though theft remains rampant.

Attempts to obtain comments from the District Police Commander of Oyam on the matter were unsuccessful at press time.

This is not the first time commercial sex work has been reported in Oyam District. On April 28, 2020, eighteen commercial sex workers from Kamdini were arrested for violating Covid-19 preventive guidelines. Their arrest stemmed from public complaints that they were still involved with cargo truck drivers, which exposed the community to coronavirus infection.