KAMPALA – The Ugandan Parliament has issued a stern demand for the government to immediately explain its failure to protect citizens, particularly young women, from rampant human trafficking, torture, and exploitation abroad, following a damning investigative report.
The heated debate on Tuesday was sparked by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who opened the parliamentary session by expressing his “deep concern” over the continued suffering of Ugandans in foreign countries, which he stated has persisted “without meaningful intervention” from authorities.
His remarks were a direct response to a recent BBC investigation that exposed a Ugandan recruiter who was trafficking young girls to the Middle East. The report detailed how the victims were sold into forced sex work and exploitation, with some losing their lives under tragic circumstances.
“The plight of our people, especially our young women, abroad is alarming. We cannot sit back and watch as our citizens are sold like commodities, tortured, and exploited with no hope from their motherland,” Tayebwa told the House, setting a somber and urgent tone for the day’s proceedings.
The Deputy Speaker’s concerns found unanimous support across the political divide. Lawmakers from both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the opposition benches rose to echo his sentiments, launching scathing criticisms against the government.
Members of Parliament collectively accused the government of severe negligence in its duty to dismantle sophisticated trafficking networks that prey on vulnerable Ugandans seeking employment opportunities overseas. They argued that despite repeated warnings and previous incidents, effective measures to curb the illegal trade and bring kingpins to justice have been woefully inadequate.
The legislative body now expects a comprehensive statement from the relevant government ministries, including Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs, outlining the concrete steps being taken to rescue current victims, prevent further trafficking, and prosecute the perpetrators both at home and abroad.
The government is under mounting pressure to act swiftly as public outrage grows over the fate of the nation’s youth.
