Ugandan girls narrate Iraq ordeal

By Moses Walubiri and Henry Sekanjako

The testimonies from the five young women recently rescued from sex slavery in Iraq were so heartrending that many members of parliament in the committee room shed a tear.

As they narrated their accounts of repeated rape, sodomy, subjection to electric shocks, cigarettes burns in Iraq where they had gone in search for better opportunities, MPs on the committee on Gender, Labor and Social Development on Tuesday were seen wiping away tears.

"I literary became mad because I was overworked, fed poorly and the many men in the sprawling mansion took turns sleeping with me when and how they wanted without my consent", Noor Namazzi told the MPs.

"I left my stall in Owino and my family in search of a better life but I lost it all because even my husband decided to marry another woman in my absence," Namazzi chocked, as she fought back tears.

In their petition tabled by Elijah Okupa (Kasilo), the MPs heard that the petitioners are part of the over 150 young women allegedly lured to Iraq with promises of plum jobs by Uganda Veterans Development Ltd.

The victims allegedly parted with over sh2m to process their travel to Iraq with a promise to work in in different departments at American airbases.

However, on reaching Baghdad airport, they had their passports confiscated by a one Abu Sami and instead distributed to different Iraqi families where they worked as virtual slaves until their dramatic rescue by American marines, Colonels; Tom Hardy and Charles Blaschke.

Their masters, the girls were told, paid Uganda Veterans US$3500 (sh8.5m) for each of them and so were not entitled to any penny for their labor.

"We are about 15 people pushing this petition but there are many girls languishing in Iraq now that the Americans have withdrawn," Prossie Nabweteme, a teacher who found the allure of a salary in dollars in Iraq irresistible said.

The women have petitioned parliament to revoke the license of the recruiting firm owned by Rtd. Col. Chris Mudoola and Grace Kanyike pending investigations.

They also want government to compensate them and repatriate all victims of trafficking still held in Iraq.

However, when contacted, Col. Mudola acknowledged his company recruiting people to work in Iraq but not as sex slaves.

Human trafficking is a grave offense in many countries including Uganda which enacted the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009.