This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, East Africa's long-distance truck drivers have become a major concern. According to an AFP report, published on May 16, 2020, these drivers are gathering at truck stops, weighbridges, and customs points, socializing with sex workers and potentially spreading the virus.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has acknowledged the role of truck drivers in the spread of the disease, stating, "It is clear... the remaining sources of the disease are the truck drivers within Uganda and the region."
However, the presence of truck drivers has also contributed to the growth of urban centers in the region. In the late 1980s and 1990s, highway towns in Uganda and other parts of the continent were ravaged by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. However, these towns have since rebounded and are now more prosperous.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic also led to a shift in the dynamics of sex work in the region. With the loss of two generations of sex workers, a new cohort emerged to rebuild the industry. This has led to a more complex and nuanced understanding of sex work in the region.
Today, as the region faces a new pandemic, some countries are turning to sex workers to help trace people who have contracted the virus. In Zambia, for example, sex workers have been praised for their cooperation in contact tracing efforts.
As the region continues to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, it is clear that the dynamics of trucking corridors and sex work are complex and multifaceted. While truck drivers have become a major concern, their presence has also contributed to the growth of urban centers and the evolution of sex work in the region.
