Uganda Police in Mbarara City Central Division have uncovered a massive human trafficking ring, rescuing 63 victims aged between 17 and 30 years.
The victims, who came from districts as far as Arua, were lured to Mbarara City with false promises of employment opportunities.
Upon arrival, they were confined in rooms in Kisenyi and Rwentondo cells in Kakoba Division and coerced into recruiting their friends to join an unidentified company.
Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, confirmed that 12 suspects had been arrested. The suspects allegedly charged the victims fees ranging from 120,000 to 1.5 million shillings.
Kasasira added that the victims spent anywhere from one day to over 60 days in confinement before being rescued.
He further stated that police are collaborating with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to reunite the victims with their families.
“Inquiries into the matter are still ongoing. This case highlights the alarming issue of human trafficking in Uganda, which has been a concern for some time,” Kasasira said.
The government has been working to combat human trafficking by conducting investigations and providing training for migrant workers. However, more needs to be done to protect vulnerable individuals from falling prey to such schemes.
