Kitgum District is witnessing an alarming increase in teenage prostitution, with school-going girls reportedly among those involved, particularly in Central Division, Westland, and neighboring sub-counties.

James Okidi, the Kitgum District Community Development Officer, has raised serious concerns over the situation, revealing that many girls seen on the streets in the evenings are actively engaged in prostitution. Shockingly, some of these girls are still attending school in Senior One, Two, and Three.

Okidi noted that the activity appears to be highly organized, primarily operating through lodges in busy areas of Kitgum Municipality, frequented by adult men. "Many of the affected girls are between 13 and 17 years old and often engage with much older men, especially during school holidays when children are idle," he said.

Two years ago, a snowball study conducted by the district recorded over 400 girls involved in prostitution within Kitgum Municipality alone. Okidi believes the current figure is significantly higher due to the prevailing economic challenges, and added that many of these girls are also undergoing HIV treatment.

The study highlighted poverty at the household level as the primary driver pushing girls into prostitution, with many lacking basic school necessities that their parents cannot afford.

In response, Okidi urged parents to maintain close supervision of their children, particularly during evening hours, and encouraged their engagement in productive activities such as farming, brick making, and sports. He also revealed that some of the girls involved come from Mucwini and Kitgum Matidi sub-counties.

With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), several girls are now being trained in vocational skills, aimed at equipping them for safer and sustainable income-generating opportunities.

Local residents have also weighed in on the crisis, attributing it to weak parental supervision and the breakdown of traditional family support systems.

Daisy Ajok, a Westland resident, said, "Many parents are preoccupied with looking for money and have little time to nurture and monitor their children." She described the problem as a child protection crisis rather than a moral failing, noting that most affected children come from impoverished households or live without adequate adult care.

Karen Auma, a 43-year-old mobile fruit vendor in Kitgum Municipality, blamed early and unrestricted access to mobile phones and online adult content, combined with a growing desire for material possessions. She expressed concern over students as young as Senior One now owning smartphones without supervision, exposing them to harmful influences.

George Okello, a boda boda rider from Lulojo, emphasized the need for community involvement, stating, "In the past, children were a shared responsibility of the community, but today neighbours and relatives often remain indifferent, allowing children to drift into risky behaviour."

The rising cases of teenage prostitution in Kitgum District highlight the urgent need for combined efforts from parents, local authorities, and community members to safeguard vulnerable children and provide them with better opportunities.