Shary Babes is a beautify girl who flaunts her curves on social media platform Facebook. Each day sh takes the latest pictures in seductive poses for all to see. Shary Babes gets 1,000 likes for each picture in her daily updates.
Why would a young unemployed woman spend all that data which costs money to upload pictures just for the sake of likes?
In this investigation, we found that behind what has become known as slaying is a complex web of prostitution on line.
Our reporter sent a message to one Slay Queen on Tuesday of this week. He wrote “Hi Shary. You’ve got sexy pictures. You are really blessed.” Within a few minutes he had received a reply from Shary.That reply rread “Thank you dia, when can I see you hun.” Her reply was typically inviting like a plan for a date was in the offing.
Not to sound like a desperate man, he replied after an hour. He said “I am sorry I can only be able to meet on Saturday, because my schedule is very tight.” Shary replied in a few minutes. It was a sign that she is always online. She sounded very disappointed in her reply.
“I am going to miss you for all these days hun.But please send me something for some data to continue chatting with you,” her replied stated. It sounded like all the time that she was writing, someone could have sponsored her data expenses.
Predictably our reporter did not send any money for data. She went quiet.
At 7.20am on Saturday morning, she sent a text “hi dia, at what time shall me meet today?” Her prompt memory was like that of a sharp businesswoman.
After a few exchanges, they agreed to meet at a Hotel in Bugolobi. Our reporter sent a female colleague in advance, to check if indeed the Slay Queen was serious.
Shary Babes sent a message to our male reporter asking him to come with UShs 100,000 for transport for her to go back to Nakawa after their encounter. A boda boda from Bugolobi to Nakawa normally costs Shs 1,000. A special hire costs Shs 10,000. Fuel for a self-driven car costs Shs 10,000.
Our reporter did not reply to the request.
After several other messages from Shary, that went without a reply, she started getting agitated. “Are you coming hun?” she wrote. He remained silent. Eventually she changed her tactic. She sent three pictures of her naked self to poke a response.
“waiting for you with something special,” a caption of the photos read.
Meanwhile his female colleague reached the venue of the encounter and saw an anxious lady pacing up and down the corridors. A whatsapp message to her colleague confirmed she was the one.The female colleague left and our reporter switched off his phone.
The experience was an eye opener into the changing face of the world’s oldest profession. Timothy Mukisa, a counselor with Better Lives Initiative in Kampala says online prostitution is on the rise because of various reasons.
“It is driven by high rates of employment in the country,” Mukisa notes.
With 70% if the population being below the age of 30, jobs are increasingly becoming difficult to get, yet the cost of living is equally on the rise.
The advent of social media, has been seen as good for socio-economic transformation. Although it has indeed contributed to some transformation, it has ushered in some negative trends.
Cyber crime is on the rise, and prostitution has entered a new phase.
One police officer who declined to be named said the force is following up this issue with keen interest.
“We are aware of that problem, and we shall ensure that we address it, in the interest of our cultural values,” the officer said.
