Driving along Rubaga, Mengo, Namirembe roads I couldn't help but notice the several signposts raised indicating that they offered massage. However, the buildings that seemed to house these parlors were either bars, guest houses and even some arcades. Which made me wonder what kind of massage was offered here. I have been going for massages for years and for me it's not only therapeutic but relaxing too, it is an honorable profession that I respect, the masseuse has healing hands. Reflexology is one of the methods I use to clear my regular migraines. One does not just walk to the spa and demand a massage, it involves prior booking, consultation on what area of the body aches, the masseuse can tell which areas are problematic and advice on diet, sitting posture etc. my girls and I have had several bridal and baby showers at the spa and spent the whole day being pampered, receiving pedicures, manicures, facial treatments and usually doze off at the massage table, it is a relaxing ritual for us.

I decided to enlist the services of John, a close friend of mine and storm these massage parlors that dot the streets, the first one we visited was on Rubaga road, in an arcade, time check was 1 pm, it was a very crowded and noisy building, we boldly entered and asked for directions to the massage parlour , we were directed to the shop at the end but the looks given to us were full of surprise, we were soon to discover why. Being a lady, I was not welcomed and the two ladies’ we found there were more interested in my companion John. They were skimpily dressed, had very long nails or should I call them talons, we were told that massage was 20,000/= and massage special was 40,000/=, each session lasted for only 20 minutes! They quickly ushered John into a tiny room that had a narrow bed, not the usual massage beds I was totally ignored and decided to snoop, the room had two narrow beds separated by curtains.

It was clear that something fishy was going on here, I called one girl aside and told her that I was in the process of opening a guest house and required the services of a masseuse on board, she warmed up a bit and opened up, massage special included sex which was what most clients who walked through their doors wanted, they were basically a brothel disguised as a massage parlor .

We hastily left with promises to call them to view our guest house, we visited here other ‘’ parlors ” within the same vicinity and some were in an even worse condition than the previous one. There was no need for us to check out the other joints, we decided to leave and have a snack as we pondered on our discovery, it is such a pity that an honorable profession like massage has been dragged to the dogs like this! As we headed back to work on our boda-bodas , I engaged the Boda rider and he told me that they have existed for a while now, he, in fact, said that he gets his ‘massage' at 20,000/= and is a regular at a joint in Wakaligga! Guess I was the last to know.