It has just been brought to light through a very distressing confession, which has gone viral on the Internet, that a group of seven HIV-positive men actually lure and exploit women into sexual engagements, and these girls are mostly students from Makerere University Business School. In a bloody frightening confession, these men showed no regard for human life and health as they carried out their predatory activities and brazenly enough confessed to their actions on social media platforms.
The confession outlines that these men, referring to themselves as “the guys,” actually go out looking for women, especially those from MUBS, promising them fun and money. Often, they approach groups of women, convincing them to accompany them to private apartments, where they are subjected to sexual exploitation. This shocking practice involves the women being passed around in circles among the men, referred to as being “chewed in circles.”.
The confession also reveals the terrifying modus operandi: the men switch between different apartments, depending on who is to provide a venue for such deals. Conscious of their HIV-positive status, they continue to have unprotected sex with the unsuspecting women. Moreso, they give their victims some money, usually about 200,000 UGX, as some form of compensation, knowing the dangers they are causing their victims.
But perhaps the most salient element of this confession is the unapologetic nature of these men. It is clear they understand the risk at which they are putting others, yet seemingly care little for the health and well-being of the women they are exploiting. Phrases like “we don’t care” and “we won’t stop” reveal their disquieting unconcern about any outcome of their actions. These men, even while on medication to control the virus, have made it a habit to deliberately expose innocent people to the virus without feeling any sense of responsibility.
The revelation has caused an uproar of condemnation in Uganda. Many described the actions of the men as not only immoral but criminal. Ugandan law treats the intentional transmission of HIV as a grave crime; thus, the men are likely to be taken into legal custody.
Health experts and advocates have weighed in on the critical importance of safe sexual practices, with an increase in awareness around predatory behavior. It has also brought to the fore that more needs to be done in safeguarding young vulnerable women, especially university students, from exploitation.
Social media proved important in bringing such heinous acts into the public domain. Besides the fact that this revelation should send shockwaves among the public, it also underlines the cautionary principle regarding safety in sexual encounters. As this story unfolds, a serious strand underlines immediate imperatives if action is to be taken to address these risks with a view to saving the lives of those affected.
