Man charged, remanded over human trafficking

CRIME    JUSTICE  HUMAN  TRAFFICKING

KAMPALA - The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court in Kampala has charged and remanded a man to Luzira Prisons over trafficking persons.

David Sabitti, 40, a boda boda rider and resident of Kireka, in Wakiso district, was on Wednesday arraigned before Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza and charged with three counts of trafficking person, illegal recruitment and obtaining money by false pretense. However, he denied all the charges.

The charges contravene sections 3 (1) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009, 83 (A), 85 (A) of the Employment Recruitment of Migrant Workers Abroad Act 2005 and 305 of the Penal Code.

Prosecution led by Patricia Cingtho informed that investigations in the matter were complete and requested for a hearing date.

"Your worship, inquiries in the matter are complete, and we request this court to fix a date for hearing of the case to kick off," Cingtho said.

This prompted the trial magistrate to adjourn the case. "This case is adjourned till February 19, and the accused is hereby remanded till then when hearing of the case will commence," said Muhumuza.

The prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on May 5, 2019, in Kampala district, recruited, transported and transferred Robert Galabuzi to United Arab Emirates (Dubai) by means of fraud and deception for the purpose of exploitation.

It is further asserted that between the months of January 2018 and April 2019, without a licence of labour recruitment, the accused exported Galabuzi to UAE for foreign employment.

With intent to defraud, the accused obtained over sh5m from Galabuzi by falsely pretending that he was taking him to Dubai for a job whereas not.