Two Ugandan Women Arrested in Thailand for Prostitution, Earned Shs52 Million Monthly
BANGKOK, Thailand – Two Ugandan women have been apprehended in Thailand on charges related to operating a prostitution ring, with police alleging they earned approximately Shs52 million (500,000 Thai Baht) per month.
The suspects, identified as Janet Nakalema, 32, and Mariam Namatovu, 29, were arrested on March 1, 2026, on the popular tourist island of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province.
According to the Thai Tourist Police, the arrest was triggered by a complaint from an Israeli tourist. The man reported that his belongings went missing after he met with a Ugandan woman he had contacted for sexual services.
Following the report, police launched an undercover operation. An officer posed as a client and contacted the suspects via WhatsApp, arranging a meeting at a rented house on the island. The undercover officer reportedly agreed to pay 5,000 Baht (approximately Shs520,000) for a “double service.”
Upon receiving a pre-arranged signal, police raided the property. They found the two Ugandan women inside along with another foreign tourist who had reportedly arrived earlier for the same service.
During interrogation, the two women admitted to using their tourist visas as a cover to operate a sex service business for over two months. They confessed to serving an average of three to four foreign clients daily, totaling about 180 customers during their time on the island.
Police reported that the suspects acknowledged earning up to 500,000 Baht (Shs52 million) per month from the activity, the bulk of which was sent back to their families in Uganda.
The suspects now face charges related to organizing prostitution and advertising sexual services for financial gain.
In a separate but related operation, immigration authorities in Phuket also arrested five other Ugandan women accused of offering sex services in the Patong entertainment district following public complaints.
The two suspects remain in custody at Koh Phangan police station as legal proceedings continue.
About The Author
