As part of events to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Uganda, Chief of Mission, Sanusi Tejan Savage, has handed over the National Trafficking in Persons Database to the government of Uganda.
This was during the commemoration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) under the theme ‘Reach Every Victim of Trafficking, Leave No One Behind’.
In his keynote address on Sunday, Sanusi emphasized the need for the protection of victims of TIP. “Let us reach every victim and leave no one behind to end human trafficking,” he said.
IOM has directly assisted over 100,000 trafficked persons in the last 25 years but more still needs to be done.
“Leave no one behind” is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The celebrations began with a “Solidarity Walk” from the National Museum to Kabira Country Club Hotel Grounds in Bukoto, Kampala to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights”.
Other activities included a media campaign on TIP and a public screening of the film “Forced to Beg”.
Speaking at the event, CP Julius Twinomujuni, the National Coordinator in the Coordination Office for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (COPTIP) at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said 1,200 cases were reported in 2022 which indicated a rise attributed to intensifying programmes against trafficking.
He noted, however, that the 2022 U.S. Report on Trafficking in Persons in Uganda commented on the issue of Karamoja children on Kampala streets, especially along Jinja Road traffic lights which still remains unresolved.
The report said that of the 421 reported incidents of human trafficking in 2021, at least 278 involved exploitation in Uganda and at least 113 involved exploitation abroad; 30 incidents of trafficking were unknown.
The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rachel Bikhole, called for intense investigations to give justice to the victims and also prevent further trafficking in persons.
On Friday 28, July 2023, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), in partnership with Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) and Liberty Shared launched Uganda’s first-ever live and publicly available data visualization dashboard for human trafficking cases.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Trafficking in Person Mobile App Platform (TIPMAP), a groundbreaking initiative in Uganda, DPP Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, emphasized the role of the ODPP – TIPMAP website, which is expected to serve as a pivotal information hub for various anti-trafficking entities and the public at large.
The platform will encourage individuals to report cases, ultimately leading to the apprehension of perpetrators and the protection of victims, which is the primary goal of this initiative.
She prayed that this platform would contribute significantly to the ongoing activities aimed at preventing and safeguarding both Ugandans and non-Ugandans from falling victim to trafficking.
She further reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to combat trafficking crimes by implementing record-keeping mechanisms and fostering information-sharing infrastructure.
Abodo stressed the importance of enhancing investigative and prosecution techniques to address this pressing issue effectively.
According to Superintendent of Police Kemigisa Nusura, the Trafficking in Person Liaison Officer for ODPP and Police Criminal Investigation Directorate, 75% of the cases reported are domestic, warranting a more radical approach in the fight against this heinous crime.
Speaking on Sunday, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu who represented the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, stressed the importance of data in managing TIP cases.
An online directory of service providers and the TIP Database housed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs was launched, and the equipment to facilitate the service was handed over.
The ODPP TIPMAP Data Dashboards for collecting and sharing TIP investigation and prosecution data will be harmonised or integrated into the directory so as to enable good data coordination.
According to Musanyufu, the lack of shelters for counselling and reintegrating victims of trafficking is derailing their efforts in fighting the vice.
“Uganda remains the source, transit and destination of human trafficking. Victims are trafficking both inside the country and across borders,” he revealed.
He cited the case of an individual who was recently arrested for running a brothel in Kampala using trafficked Asian girls.
“Every year, people are trafficked to work in mines, farms, factories, lakes, construction sites, private homes or for commercial sex,” he noted, adding that human trafficking is a global problem.
He believes raising awareness and solidifying international partnerships will aid in fighting the vice.
“We must protect each other against this vice. The Ministry envisions a Uganda free of trafficking.”
The commemoration ceremony was supported by the Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme, funded by European Union International Partnerships and the German embassy in Uganda.
BMM is a regional multi-partner programme supporting efforts to end human trafficking in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
