SIU was founded in 2014 to mobilize, coordinate and bring uniformed voices of male sex workers to contribute to building a progressive sex work movement in Uganda. While there existed LGBTI organizations, consortiums and networks and sex work organizations in their diversity in Uganda like female sex work led organizations, transgender women sex work led organizations and others, there was no specific organization or group that was majorly targeting and led by male sex work to present male sex work issues in different forums. Therefore, a need to have a male sex work group arose as there was no single group that can claim to be responsible for bringing a uniformed male sex work voice to mobilise male sex workers.
SIU works to protect and promote the rights of male sex workers in Uganda, strives to advocate and influence change of laws and policies that encourage violation of male sex workers in Uganda as well as working to reduce social and economic stigma and discrimination against male sex workers. SIU works to improve access to health care services among male sex workers through influencing change in attitudes of health care providers while providing health care services among male sex workers and improving skills and opportunities for male sex workers for economic empowerment.
