By Eye Media Reporter | Kampala
Behind the polished selfies, stylish outfits, and happy graduation posts, a painful reality simmers beneath the surface for many university students in Kampala. With tuition fees rising and limited family support, some students — especially young women — are being pushed into desperate measures just to stay in school.
One student, whom we shall call Diana, is in her third year at a popular private university in Kampala. Her journey has been anything but easy.
“I lost my father in S.6 vacation. My mother tried her best, but by my second year, she couldn’t manage anymore,” Diana narrates, fighting back tears. “I started getting help from men. Some were kind, others took advantage.”
Diana’s story is not unique.
A study by the Uganda Youth Platform in 2023 revealed that nearly 27% of female students in Kampala’s private universities had, at some point, relied on informal “sponsors” to finance their education. In many of these cases, support came with conditions — ranging from emotional manipulation to outright exploitation.
But beyond tuition, there’s another growing factor: the pressure to look glamorous. In today’s social media-driven culture, many female students feel compelled to wear the latest fashion, carry expensive smartphones, maintain high-end hairstyles, and pay for regular manicure and pedicure sessions — all in a bid to be seen as “that girl.”
“Looking good isn’t cheap,” another student confided. “If you’re on campus with your natural hair and cracked phone, you’re mocked. So girls find ways to keep up appearances — and many fall into the wrong hands.”
The allure of lifestyle has pushed many into Kampala’s night economy, where massage parlors and secretive brothels in upscale areas like Kabalagala, Najjera, and Munyonyo reportedly host university students moonlighting as sex workers under the cover of “part-time jobs.”
There’s also a modern twist to the game — where some students engage in “transactional dating” without even pretending it’s love.
“I’ll ask him to first send me 400,000 before I can go on a date with him,” one student boldly told our reporter. “I’ll say I need to buy a nice dress, fix my hair and nails. If he can’t afford it, he’s not my type.”
These trends have sparked concern not only among educationists and parents, but also within the Uganda Police and the Gender Ministry.
Where Are the Parents?
Many observers fault parents for going silent the moment their daughters step into university life. Some see their daughters return home with high-end phones, expensive handbags, and salon-fresh hair — but ask no questions.
“When a girl from a peasant family suddenly starts sending money back home or living like a boss lady in Kampala, it should raise questions,” says Harriet Nabukeera, a gender rights advocate. “Parents must stay present and engaged in their daughters’ lives beyond paying school fees.”
Advice to Students and Parents
To female students, the message is clear: your body is not your school fees. There is dignity in struggling through hardship and seeking help from the right channels — be it university bursaries, part-time jobs, or church/community support.
“It may take longer, but integrity will carry you further than sugar-coated shortcuts,” said Rev. James Luyinda, a youth counselor in Kampala.
To parents: be involved, not just as payers, but as mentors and protectors. Talk to your daughters, ask questions, guide them. Know where their money comes from and how they spend it.
