Charles Mwesigwa, also known as Abbey, is a Ugandan man accused of running a prostitution and sex trafficking ring in Dubai.
According to a BBC Africa Eye investigation titled Death in Dubai: #DubaiPortaPotty, Mwesigwa lures women from Uganda to Dubai with false promises of jobs in hospitality or supermarkets. Once there, the women are allegedly trapped in debt bondage for costs such as visas, accommodation, and travel, and are forced into sex work to repay the debts.
He is accused of supplying women to clients for “high-end parties,” including the notorious so-called “porta-potty parties,” where wealthy men pay for degrading sexual acts involving excrement or urine.
Reports claim he charges clients from $1,000 per night and more for extreme requests. Women who refuse are said to be locked in rooms until they comply.
The case has drawn attention because of the deaths of two Ugandan women in Dubai—Monic Karungi, also known as Mona Kizz, and Kayla Birungi—both of whom allegedly fell from buildings. Authorities ruled their deaths as suicides, but families and activists suspect links to trafficking networks.
Mwesigwa denies all allegations. He has described himself as simply a partygoer who knows many women and invites wealthy clients to his tables. He says he is not involved in trafficking or forced prostitution and has denied any connection to the deaths of the two Ugandan women.
The case highlights wider concerns about human trafficking in Dubai, where migrant women are often exploited through fake job offers and coerced into sex work. The BBC investigation and social media hashtag #DubaiPortaPotty have amplified global awareness of these abuses.
Mwesigwa’s profile remains controversial. To his accusers, he is a pimp profiting from desperation and exploitation.
To his defenders, he is being targeted because of his visibility in Dubai’s nightlife. Authorities in Uganda, the UAE, and beyond are now under pressure to act on these allegations.
