KAMPALA – A prominent Ugandan lawmaker is at the center of a major scandal after being formally accused of human trafficking, a case that has ignited public fury in the wake of a devastating BBC report on the exploitation of Ugandan migrant workers.
Benjamin Kamukama, the Member of Parliament for Ruhama County, and his wife, Evas Tugume, are facing allegations that they tricked a former political aspirant into a trafficking ring under the guise of a legitimate job opportunity in Dubai.
The accusations have escalated to the highest levels of government. A leaked letter from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, dated July 21, 2025, calls for the “immediate arrest and investigation” of the couple for alleged human trafficking and extortion. The letter, signed by Milton Turyasiima on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, was directed to the Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
The ministry’s intervention follows a formal complaint from Winnie Twinomugisha, who claims she was trafficked to Dubai after paying Shillings 5 million in unauthorized placement fees.
A Narrow Escape from “Modern-Day Slavery”
Twinomugisha, a former candidate for the Ntungamo Woman MP seat, detailed a harrowing ordeal. After facing financial hardship, she approached MP Kamukama, a longtime acquaintance, for help. He allegedly connected her to his wife’s company, THK-Company, promising a teaching job in Dubai.
To secure the position, she borrowed over UGX 7 million from a SACCO, using her father as a guarantor. However, upon arrival in Dubai, her situation turned nightmarish. She alleges she was locked in a room with other Ugandan women and nearly had her passport and phone confiscated in what she described as a “modern-day slavery trap.”
“Other girls were not as lucky,” Twinomugisha told reporters. “Some were sold, and I witnessed things I can’t even describe.” She eventually escaped and found refuge at the Ugandan Embassy, which facilitated her return home. In widely circulated videos from last year, she was seen pleading for rescue, alleging she and others were being prepared “for sale to unknown buyers.”
MP Kamukama Denies Charges, Threatens Legal Action
In his defense, MP Kamukama admitted to helping Twinomugisha travel to the UAE but vehemently denied any involvement in trafficking or collecting money from her.
“She’s unfairly accusing me. I only connected her to a company,” he stated. He claimed the accusations are a politically motivated smear campaign driven by her financial troubles, alleging she owes significant loans and was evading arrest when she left the country.
Kamukama asserted that he has successfully facilitated job placements for over 150 women in Saudi Arabia and was previously cleared by investigations. He threatened to take legal action if the allegations continue.
Scandal Emerges Amid National Outrage
This case comes at a time of heightened national sensitivity following a damning BBC investigation that exposed the systematic trafficking and sexual exploitation of Ugandan women in Gulf nations like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The report detailed how corrupt labour agents, often with political connections, exploit desperate job seekers.
Twinomugisha’s account has become a focal point for public anger, putting a human face on the systemic issue and placing powerful figures under intense scrutiny. The scandal raises urgent questions about the regulation of Uganda’s labour export industry and the alleged involvement of government officials in its abuses.
