Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has demanded urgent government accountability following shocking revelations that young Ugandan women are being trafficked to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and forced into sex work under false promises of employment.
The Deputy Speaker’s concern comes after a BBC World Service investigation exposed a Ugandan man, Charles Mwesigwa, allegedly running a prostitution and trafficking ring in Dubai’s upscale neighbourhoods.
According to the BBC, Mwesigwa—who claimed to be a former London bus driver—was filmed by undercover reporters offering Ugandan women for sex parties at $1,000 (Shs3.8 million) each, boasting that “many can do pretty much everything” clients desired, including extreme fetishes.
Victims reportedly arrive in Dubai expecting supermarket or hotel jobs but end up trapped in debt bondage and coerced into sex work.
One victim, identified as Mia, said she was told she owed Mwesigwa over $2,000 in her first weeks and described violent threats when she attempted to escape.
Reacting to the exposé, Tayebwa directed government to table a formal statement before Parliament next week.
“Hon Minister let’s have a statement next week that is especially looking at those cases of Ugandans who died. We really need to know how you followed up. We need to know whether these people indeed went through firms licensed by government or they went on their own,” Tayebwa said.
He stressed the need to establish how Ugandan girls are flown out under the guise of job opportunities only to be pushed into exploitative sex trade networks abroad.
The revelations raise renewed alarm about human trafficking rings targeting Uganda’s vulnerable youth, and Parliament is expected to press ministries responsible for labour, gender, foreign affairs, and internal security for answers.
