Uganda has witnessed a distressing surge in child trafficking cases this year, with at least 1,937 children falling victim to sexual exploitation, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mr. Derrick Higenyi Basalirwa, Deputy National Coordinator for the Office of Trafficking in Persons, revealed that most of these children are lured from their homes with false promises and end up being exploited for sexual purposes within the country.
“Child trafficking for sex and labor exploitation is alarming. We must do much more to address this crisis. In addition to the 1,937 children trafficked for sexual exploitation, 658 were victims of both sex and labor exploitation,” Basalirwa stated.
The grim reality of this issue was underscored by a recent incident in Kira. A mother, Moreen Nakagwe, sought a housemaid and paid UGX 30,000 to a woman who promised to deliver one. Instead, a boda boda rider brought her a nine-year-old girl.
“I was shocked when a young girl, barely nine, was delivered to my home as a maid. She pleaded to be allowed to work, saying her mother had sent her and warned her not to return home without securing a job,” Ms. Nakagwe recounted.
Nakagwe described her disbelief and sorrow as the child, who should have been cared for, begged for work to support her family. Moved by the girl’s plight, Nakagwe reported the case to local authorities, who began a search for the child’s mother in Pallisa District.
Basalirwa noted that in some cases, parents and guardians play a role in trafficking, either directly or indirectly. He emphasized the need for widespread awareness to combat this growing menace.
This year alone, a total of 4,966 people have been trafficked in Uganda, with children making up a staggering 79% of the victims. Domestic trafficking remains the dominant trend, accounting for over 93% of all cases.
Hotspots for trafficking include Mbale with 373 reported cases, Kampala Metropolitan with 313, and Masaka with 257. Other affected regions include Jinja, Nakawa, Gulu, Karamoja, Mukono, and Mubende, each reporting significant incidents.
Basalirwa called for collaborative efforts between communities, local authorities, and law enforcement to protect vulnerable children and prevent further exploitation. Enhanced sensitization and stricter penalties are critical to tackling the underlying causes of child trafficking in Uganda.
Child trafficking is the illegal recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of children through force, deception, coercion, or abuse of power for exploitation. It is a grave violation of children’s rights, targeting their vulnerability to exploit them for various purposes, including sexual exploitation, forced labor, domestic servitude, child soldiering, and even organ trafficking.
Children are often trafficked under false pretenses, such as promises of better living conditions, education, or employment opportunities, but are instead subjected to abuse, neglect, and exploitative conditions. Traffickers exploit economic hardships, broken family structures, or lack of education to lure children and their families into these schemes.
Unlike adults, children cannot legally give consent, making any form of movement or exploitation under trafficking inherently criminal and abusive. This practice often strips children of their childhood, safety, and opportunities, leaving lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars.
Combating child trafficking requires a multifaceted approach, including stringent law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and support systems for vulnerable families. International cooperation and community vigilance are also crucial to identify and dismantle trafficking networks and protect children from falling victim to this heinous crime.
