Police have arrested two people suspected of trafficking Ugandans to Eastern DR Congo.

The Directorate of Crime Intelligence in close coordination with the Police in Kampala Metropolitan Police North arrested the suspects.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the two suspects who are in custody were arrested on charges of human and labour trafficking of Ugandans.

According to Enanga, the suspects mobilised and illegally transported Ugandans into the Eastern DR Congo to work in the local mines of Moku, under very hostile conditions. 

"The Preliminary findings indicate that Rogers Vuma, a 28-year-old, operations Manager of China, Uganda-Congo (CUC), has been mobilising vulnerable Ugandans, from different districts and bringing them to the collection centre at Star Inn Guest House, located in Kinoni Zone ‘C’, Makerere 1 Parish, Kawempe Division, Kampala District.  The victims would spend a few days and are thereafter, smuggled out of the country through Kasese and Kanungu districts," explained Enanga.

Also arrested is Simon Ochogi, the supervisor at Star Inn and Guest House where seven female victims were recovered. 

The victims include Mildred Kugonza, a 37-year-old female adult from Buliisa district, Resty Nakayemba, a 23-year-old, female adult from Kabimbiri village, Kayunga, Annet Nabire, a 28-year-old salon attendant of Makindye, and Sylvia Ndiwakogi, a 29-year-old businesswoman of Namugongo.

Others are Loyce Akitai, a 29-year-old from Buloba, Beatrine Kyomugisha, a 31-year-old female adult of Mpaija village in Hoima and Aisha Nakawuki, a 21-year-old, female adult of Nansana in Wakiso.

While in Moku, Enanga said the workers are taken to dig for gold in local mines using rudimentary tools, a physically demanding activity, with little pay and under very degrading conditions, all in exchange for millions, by their traffickers. 

Enanga said the CUC Company has been paying for their passports and transportation out of the country.

"We are now tracing for Mr Lin, a Chinese owner of CUC which allegedly has a branch in Moku, Eastern DRC.  We are also investigating their lawyer, Eriab Naturinda, who has been processing passports for them, using his law firm of Phelp Associates Advocates, located at Park Royal buildings," stated Enanga.

As the Joint Security Agencies, the Police publicist re-affirmed their commitment towards combatting human trafficking networks, to help mitigate the serious risks of labour exploitation and modern slavery, of violence, injury and even death.

He called upon anyone with information about a potential trafficking situation, to call the Human Trafficking desk at the Criminal Investigations Directorate headquarters in Kibuli on 0713881798.