Christopher Hopkins, Soap and Sugar (PEOPLE & PORTRAIT 2025)

28 November 2024. Busede, Uganda. 13-year-old Jesca* is comforted by her mother Ruth* in the bedroom they share with Jesca's sister Mariam*. Jesca and Mariam both live with undiagnosed intellectual disabilities. Jesca is currently seven months pregnant because of rape. The family know the attacker, a 37-year-old neighbour, who has fled the area. The family of the alleged rapist offered Ruth a bar of soap and a bag of sugar each month until the baby is born as compensation. Ruth agreed but the deal was then reneged. As a result, she went to the local police who informed her that if she continued to press charges against the rapist, she herself would be arrested on grounds of neglect. While the health system in Uganda is flawed towards people living with disability, the justice system also plays a part in their community ostracization. Ruth is a subsistent sugar cane worker who is also seven months pregnant. When the two babies are born, who will care for them and who will be able to earn a living is a question they have no answers for. *Names changed for security reasons

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.