Youth MP urges govt to rein in on human traffickers
Kanyesigye asked the foreign affairs ministry to explain what was done to stem the vice.
Many Ugandans are being trafficked to India, China, Cambodia, and these are young people. (File photo)
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National Youth Female MP Mercy Kanyesigye has raised concern over the rising cases of human trafficking affecting especially her constituency, urging the government to rein in on the culprits.
During the ongoing induction of Members of Parliament at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on Thursday (July 2), she asked the foreign affairs ministry to explain what was done to stem the vice.
This was shortly after a presentation by the ministry's permanent secretary, Vincent Bagiire.
“There is a case that is going on in this country. Many Ugandans are being trafficked to India, China, Cambodia, and these are young people. When they get to those countries, they are led into prostitution and the people who take them are profiting. These young people start doing prostitution, and these traffickers get money," said Kanyesigye.
In response, Bagiire acknowledged that while some citizens have previously been trapped in degrading professions, government is doing its best to repatriate them.
“You made mention of Ugandans in Myanmar. Working with the International Organisation for Migration and with support from His Excellency, the President, we returned in excess of 100 Ugandans from Myanmar," he said.
"The unfortunate thing is the flights on which Ugandans were returning. They were Ugandans who were being misled that there were jobs in Thailand, and indeed as soon as they landed in Thailand, they are taken across the border back to Myanmar."
'Used as a business'
"In the case of India, we have tried our level best within our means to try and track these ladies that are trafficking fellow young women and taking them to prostitution. We have rescued a number of them from captivity because they are actually held as captives.
"They are used as a business; they are a product of some individual over there. It's extremely sad. What we need is to work with all arms of government, external security, Ministry of Internal Affairs to apprehend these individuals."
Bagiire said that while the government has rescued and repatriated many Ugandans who found themselves trapped in degrading jobs abroad, not all citizens are willing to return, citing the recent evacuation of Ugandan students from Iran amid an ongoing war with Israel and USA, where some citizens opted to remain there.
He said that although the government continues to undertake such repatriation efforts, no specific budget has been allocated for the exercise.
He pointed to the ongoing repatriation of Ugandans from South Africa in the wake of mounting anti-migrant protests, following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni to Uganda Airlines.