Police reports a decrease on Cases of Trafficking in Persons in Uganda

KAMPALA-UGANDA: The Police’s 2023 Annual National Report on Countering Trafficking in Persons in Uganda has shown a drop in the number of cases of trafficking in persons  to police.

In a report presented to the stakeholders at the Silver Springs Hotel in Kampala, the police said that they recorded 1006 cases of trafficking in persons signifying a 16.6% decrease in the number of 1,200 cases reported in 2022 

The office of the Uganda’s National Coordination Office for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, suggested that the drop could either be that the cases are reducing or are not being reported to 

The report revealed that the cases of child trafficking were the highest, with 510 representing 50.69%, as compared to adult trafficking, which had 496 cases, representing 49.30%. 

Of 1006 cases, 576 were submitted to the office of the directorate of public prosecution (ODPP) for perusal and legal advice. 331 cases were taken to court, out of which 11 secured convictions.

Elgon, Greater Masaka, Kampala Metropolitan Police South, and Wamala Regions topped as sources of domestic trafficking, while Katwe, Mubende, Namisindwa, and Kamwenge, among others, emerged as districts or divisions from which children are being trafficked.

The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control in the Ministry of Internal Affairs Col. Geoffrey Kambere representing the Permanent Secretary of Internal Affairs, presided over the launch of the report.

Col. Kambere appealed to stakeholders to make use of the report in the fight against trafficking in persons urging that the focus has been shifted to conducting public awareness and sensitization campaigns against trafficking in persons.

“In 2024, the focus will continue to be put on the enhancement of public awareness and sensitization campaigns against trafficking in persons and capacity building for stakeholders to mainly ensure punishment of offenders and protection of victims” said Col. Geoffrey Kambere.

Col. Geoffrey Kambere added that the Authorities need to build the capacity of investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers, and other stakeholders, noting that much emphasis was put on strengthening coordination among stakeholders.