University campuses, which were once known as places dedicated to academics, personal development, and intellectual growth, have increasingly become environments where a troubling phenomenon is emerging—transactional sex, often referred to as “sex for survival.”
This disturbing trend involves students engaging in sexual activities not out of desire, but as a means of securing financial support, housing, or other essential resources, highlighting the intersection of socioeconomic challenges and the pursuit of education in contemporary academic settings.
Young women, driven by the desire for luxury and basic needs, are engaging in sexual relationships with older men or even colleagues in exchange for financial support. The phenomenon has become so rampant that some girls even boast about it, calling themselves “the capital” to get what they want “Like how can you be poor when you always move with something expensive you can trade out” said one of the students alleged to be actively involved in this social mayhem.
Social media is filled with many disturbing videos showing students making sex tapes. They want to get rich and own expensive things without working hard, this shows that some students are willing to do anything to get whatever they want. They are risking their reputation and future for short-term gains.
Beneath the outward appearance of confidence, however, lies the reasons that compel these young women to engage in transactional sex. Societal pressures, financial hardships, and personal struggles all contribute to the difficult decisions they make.
For some, entering into these relationships becomes a desperate means of survival, allowing them to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and tuition. For others, it may stem from a desire to maintain a more luxurious or comfortable lifestyle, which they might feel is out of reach through traditional means. The combination of these factors pushes them into the arms of older men, where financial support or material gain often becomes intertwined with personal vulnerability.
Speaking to 22-year-old university student, who wished to remain anonymous, she manged to share her personal experience of how she ended up being one of those engaging in transactional sex.
Sitting confidently on her luxurious bed, surrounded by the finer things in life as she proudly narrated her story,
“I grew up with my mom alone,” she began, “She was poor, and I admired my friends who had everything I wished for. They’d tell me stories of their weekends at clubs, and how their men would give them money. I wanted that life.”
As she spoke, I couldn’t help but notice the designer handbag sitting on her desk, the sleek laptop, and the fancy phone. It was clear that she had indeed achieved the life she wanted.
“My friends introduced me to older men,” she continued. “At first, I didn’t know what to expect, but they showed me how to get what I wanted. These men give us money and things in exchange for sex.”
She said that these older men they date are their source of income and all they do is to give them sex and they give them everything they wish for.
According to Ashraf Lutaaya, a counseling psychologist at Nkumba University, “This generation is much exposed to social media, so when young girls reach campus, parents lose control of their lives. They start to explore, and indulge in different behaviors, including transactional sex.”
Lutaaya notes that psychological issues, such as low self-esteem and difficult situations, can force these girls to engage in transactional sex as a coping mechanism. “I’ve seen many students, and even sex workers who started on campus, come to my office seeking help. They’re trapped in a cycle of exploitation, and it’s damaging their lives.”
However, not everyone agrees that the problem lies with the girls themselves. Martha Nakayiza, a student at Nkumba University, puts the blame squarely on the parents. “As a parent, you have sent your child to school with only tuition. How do you expect your child to survive?”
Nakayiza shared her personal experience, ” My mum was not well off financially, she used to work as a mobile money agent and had to cater for all of us at home providing all our needs and ofcourse hers too, but despite all that difficult, she always made sure that she sends me at least 10, 000 shillings every week.
“Taking care of children isn’t something that is only meant for wealthy parents; in fact, it is a responsibility that belongs to all parents who are truly committed to providing for and nurturing their children,” she emphasized.
Deus, another student, expressed agreement with Nakayiza’s viewpoint, stating that many parents neglect their responsibilities. He explained that parents often bring their children to campus and then fail to check on them.
Despite the perspectives shared by the students, parents, on the other hand, tend to place the blame on the children themselves.
Mr. Katende Luis, a parent of a university student, shares his frustrations, explaining that many parents feel as though they have little control over their children’s lives once they are at school.”These children hide a lot from us,” he says, expressing the difficulty in understanding what their children are truly going through.
“We take them to school, provide them with everything we can possibly afford, and make sure they have what they need to succeed. Yet, despite all of that, we are still shocked and disappointed when we find out our children are involved in behaviors or activities we never expected them to be a part of. It could be the influence of their peers, the pressures from their social circles, that lead them down a path we never saw coming.”he said.
Speaking to Sexual health expert, Dr. Francis Lwanga , provided the most effective way of solving the issue of transactional sex that is consuming the minds of young girls at campus,
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