Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Uganda has distanced itself from a man featured in a recent BBC investigation into a sex trafficking network allegedly operating between Kampala and Dubai, saying the suspect is not Ugandan despite being portrayed as one.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Zaake W. Kibedi, speaking to local media, said the man identified in the BBC exposé as “Abby Mwesigwa” holds no legal claim to Ugandan citizenship, and that verification of his documents proved them to be forgeries.
“The man is not Ugandan. He only used Ugandan names. The UAE authorities have since arrested him, and discussions are underway regarding his deportation to his country of origin,” Amb. Kibedi told Monitor in an interview.
He added that the Uganda Embassy in Abu Dhabi had worked closely with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was now liaising with the suspect’s country of origin for further handling.
The BBC investigation, aired in September, exposed what it described as a human trafficking network moving young women from Uganda to the UAE under the pretense of job recruitment, only for many to end up in forced prostitution and exploitative conditions.
The documentary identified “Mwesigwa” as the alleged ringleader of a recruitment racket based in Dubai that preyed on vulnerable women seeking employment abroad. However, Uganda’s embassy says document verification and identity tracing revealed that the man had no Ugandan origin and used falsified credentials to disguise his nationality.
“Our investigation was thorough. We traced the documents and confirmed they were fake. He used Ugandan names, but he is not a Ugandan national,” Amb. Kibedi emphasized.
Illegal Migrants and Trafficking Concerns
Official embassy records indicate that an estimated 16,000 Ugandans currently reside in the UAE, with at least 8,000 living illegally — many believed to be victims of human trafficking or persons who entered on tourist visas hoping to secure employment.
Ambassador Kibedi revealed that the embassy has been running an ongoing campaign to repatriate stranded Ugandans, including a temporary amnesty negotiated with UAE authorities between August and December 2024, which allowed undocumented migrants to return home without paying heavy overstay fines.
“Many thought the situation would normalise, but they remain in hiding. We continue to appeal to them to report to the embassy so that we can facilitate their safe return,” he said.
Under UAE immigration law, overstayers face fines of up to Shs200,000 for the first day and Shs100,000 for each additional day, making it difficult for many to afford repatriation costs.
Ambassador Kibedi urged Ugandans to avoid illegal agents and travel only through licensed recruitment companies, adding that formal employment under Uganda’s bilateral labour agreements guarantees fair pay and worker protection.
“If you are a domestic worker who followed the right process, you are guaranteed a minimum of about Shs2 million per month, an eight-hour workday, one day off weekly, 30 days of annual leave, and full health insurance and accommodation,” he explained.
He reaffirmed Uganda’s continued cooperation with UAE authorities to curb trafficking networks and ensure safe working conditions for legal migrant workers.
Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has repeatedly warned of rising cases of fake recruitment syndicates targeting desperate job seekers. Uganda currently has over 140 licensed external labour agencies, most deploying workers to UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Officials say efforts are underway to review and tighten labour export agreements with Middle Eastern countries to better protect Ugandan workers from exploitation.
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