By A BBC eye investigation has unmasked Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, a Ugandan national and former London bus driver, accused of running a degrading sex-trade network in Dubai’s high-end neighbourhoods. The report alleges that many Ugandan girls are lured into better life in the Middle East only for their bodies to be returned home to their relatives under mysterious circumstances. With some returned in coffins or on their death beds.
A Trap for Ugandan Jobseekers Abroad
Investigators found that women are promised supermarket or hotel jobs, but upon arrival in Dubai are forced into sex work. They are told they owe thousands of dollars for air tickets, visas, food, and accommodation, debts that keep growing, leaving them powerless to escape.
Painful Losses in the Diaspora
The scandal has already claimed Ugandan lives. Monic Karungi and Kayla Birungi, two young Ugandan women linked to the ring, fell to their deaths from Dubai high-rise apartments. Authorities called the deaths suicides, but families and community members are demanding deeper investigations.
Denials Amid Growing Evidence
Mwesigwa denies running an illegal sex ring, insisting he is simply a party promoter. But survivor testimonies paint a picture of abuse, humiliation, and extreme sexual demands that leave many women traumatized and silenced.
Why Ugandans Should Pay Attention
This case highlights a dangerous reality: not every job offer abroad is genuine. Human traffickers are exploiting desperation for better opportunities, trapping Ugandans in modern slavery under the disguise of overseas employment.
Community leaders, activists, and human rights groups are now calling for:
- Closer regulation of recruitment agents in Uganda
- Safe return and rehabilitation for survivors
- Joint investigations between Uganda and Dubai authorities
- Public awareness to warn young Ugandans about deceptive job offers
A Call to Protect Our People
As the diaspora grows, so do the risks of exploitation. This investigation should serve as a wake-up call to government, families, and young jobseekers alike. Ugandans must stand together, demanding accountability, protecting our sisters abroad, and ensuring that no one is deceived into slavery in search of a better life.
