By Robert Segawa
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has recorded a staggering 3,259 cases of trafficking in persons from July 2023 to early December 2024, with 446 suspects arrested in connection with these crimes. The alarming statistics highlight a significant rise in human trafficking incidents, especially involving children.
A total of 4,965 victims of trafficking have been documented, with 79.7% of these victims being children. This equates to 2,543 minors trafficked, underscoring the grave nature of the issue. Among the various forms of trafficking, sex trafficking remains the most prevalent, with 1,937 victims identified. Additionally, 658 cases of labor trafficking and 259 other related trafficking cases were reported.
Addressing the press at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Derrick Kigenyi Basalirwa, Deputy Coordinator of the National Coordination and Prevention of Human Trafficking, provided a breakdown of the cases across Uganda’s regions. Mbale leads the country with the highest number of trafficking cases, recording 373 incidents. This is followed by Kampala with 313 cases, Masaka with 250, Jinja at 253, and Nakawa with 233 cases. Other regions such as Gulu and Karamoja both recorded 173 cases each, while Mukono had 161 cases.
Basalirwa also noted a concerning trend of online trafficking, warning parents, students, and the general public to remain vigilant, especially during the holiday season. Criminals are increasingly using the internet to lure victims with promises of scholarships, job opportunities, and entertainment offers, many of which are fronts for trafficking operations. He urged caution against fraudulent labor and job agencies, as well as online pornography-related trafficking.
One of the more troubling findings in the report is that only 6.6% of trafficking cases involve victims trafficked outside Uganda, with the majority of victims being exploited within the country itself.
Basalirwa called on parents to be particularly cautious during the long holiday period, as traffickers may take advantage of vulnerable children and teenagers. He emphasized the importance of parental vigilance to protect children from being preyed upon by traffickers looking to exploit them for commercial purposes.
The Office of the DPP continues to tackle human trafficking head-on, but officials warn that much more awareness and preventive action are needed to curb this growing crime.
