Catholic Church calls for greater action against human trafficking

Human trafficking (or trafficking in persons) is generally acknowledged as one of the most cruel and rapidly escalating crimes against the human race.

It is a worldwide tragedy that spares no country. The crime is also very profitable.

According to the research done by John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre Kampala, child-trafficking alone generates an estimated $39 billion, whereas commercial sexual exploitation yields $173 billion annually (International Labor Organisation, 2024).

Even more unfortunately, Uganda is acknowledged as a source, transit and destination country for victims of trafficking. It is reported that between 2020 and 2023, Uganda recorded 2,841 incidents of human trafficking and identified 5,812 victims (USDS, 2021-2024).

In 2023, an average 142 Ugandans were trafficked each month, with juveniles being the majority.

The Catholic Bishops of Uganda are fully aware of the real presence of the evil of human trafficking and its grave effects on the victims, their families, relatives, their community, the Church and the country.

And this is the reason why on Friday, September 12 (2025), the Uganda Catholic Secretariat, in solidarity with other religious faiths, affiliate NGOs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, organised an interfaith ecumenical prayer service against human trafficking. 

Sheikh Sserwadda Hamid (from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, behind the microphone) and his colleague praying for the nation. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)

The prayer event at Sharing Youth Centre, Nsambya, in Kampala city's Makindye division attracted participants from the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, the Bahai Faith and the Evangelical Churches, a demonstration of religious unity against the horrible crime that caused immense physical and emotional suffering to many victims and their family members.

The prayer event’s principal presider and guest of honour, Kampala Catholic archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (the chairperson of the Lay Apostolate Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference) asked the stakeholders to work together to end the vice.

“Human trafficking is not a distant problem. It is here with us. It is also not a crime chance. It is organised crime with networks involving recruiters, transporters and the exploiters,” he said. 

The Prelate later called on the Government to do more to dismantle the networks. He also called for sensitisation of the public against human trafficking. He also appealed to the youth to settle down and to seek advice before taking the option of going abroad.

The deputy national co-ordinator, Co-ordination Office for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons at the internal affairs ministry, Basalirwa Kigenyi Derek gave the assurance that the Government was committed even more than ever to the fight against human trafficking.

He said the Government was applying a multi-sectoral approach and was also investing heavily in capacity building of its investigators and prosecutors.

He asked parents and communities to be more vigilant and more committed to the safety of children, particularly during holidays.

The senior immigration officer border monitoring, Arineitwe Prosper, and peace centre executive director Alfred Avuni called on all Ugandans to acknowledge the reality of human trafficking to be able to fight it.

The function was spiced with music and skits from various ensembles, including Good Samaritan Choir, St. Egidio School of Peace (Muyenga) Children’s Choir, and the Bannakizito children, just to mention a few.

The presence of human trafficking survivors (from Mwagale Foundation) added meaning to the function.

The function progressed under the theme: "Human Trafficking Is Organised Crime, Let Us End the Exploitation”.