By Nanteza Ruth Walusimbi
NATIONAL
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has pledged to investigate allegations of a prostitution ring exploiting Ugandan girls in Dubai, following a BBC documentary that revealed cases of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Esther Anyakun Davinia, who said this was regrettable, noted that many Ugandans seeking work abroad end up in inhuman exploitative situations. She was speaking to the press at the Uganda Media Center, Kampala on Tuesday 30th September 2025.
She said government was working with United Arab Emirates (UAE) to investigate the alleged ringleader, identified as Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa.
“If unregulated, this movement degenerates into the vice of human trafficking and its attendant risks,” said Anyakun.
She admitted, however, that challenges persist, including illegal recruitment, weak monitoring, and reports of Ugandans stranded in the Gulf after being conned by unlicensed agents.
To address this, government has tightened regulations, increased penalties for traffickers, introduced mandatory 14-day pre-departure orientations, and established a 24-hour call centre for migrant workers.
Uganda has also signed bilateral labour agreements with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE, although the UAE deal is not yet operational.
As can be recalled, BBC investigation identified Mwesigwa, a Ugandan who once worked as a London bus driver, as the head of a prostitution network in Dubai.
Undercover reporting revealed he supplied women for high-end sex parties, charging around USD 1,000 per night, with higher fees for degrading acts.
Mwesigwa has denied the trafficking allegations, and said he only helped women find accommodation and jobs.
