BTRMU was founded in 2007 by Mary Zema who began working with nine women from the
streets of Mbikko in Buikwe district. She would take regular visits down to the women
working at bars, spend time with them, talking to them, getting to know why they ended up
in prostitution and working with them toward a life out of prostitution. BUIKWE-TOUCH REHABILITATION MINISTRIES UGANDA, (BTRMU)
is situated in Mbikko (Buikwe district), a semi urban township just outside of Jinja a town
about 80 km from Kampala, Uganda. Mbikko is one of the main stopovers in Uganda for
long distant drivers who come with a lot of money with the aim of spending it on alcohol
and women. It has also become well known as a place for drugs, alcohol and most especially
prostitution. Every year, many young women and girls come to Jinja and Mbikko with the
aim of making money for themselves in an honest way. Unfortunately due to the lack of job
opportunities in the area, many women are unable to earn enough money to support
themselves, and as a result they fall into the trap of prostitution. Their vulnerability to
falling into prostitution is heightened by the high number of bars and loose morals in the
region – and as this is one of the few ways women can earn a living they find themselves
being forced, coerced and deceived into prostitution.We are here to change the narrative.
