Human trafficking worries Rwenzori religious leaders

KABAROLE –Religious leaders in Rwenzori Sub-region have expressed concern over the increasing cases of human trafficking in the region and the country at large.

The clerics are asking the government to establish a mechanism for ending the vice and build rehabilitation centres for survivors of human trafficking.

According to Rev.Sr.Semerita Mbambu, the coordinator of Holy Cross Justice and Peace Ministry said Rwenzori Sub-region has many cases of human trafficking as both females and males are trafficked to neighbouring countries after being promised jobs.

“Human trafficking is a big issue in our region. We have so far rescued over 300 people since 2019 and the most affected people are girls who come back when they are raped and impregnated while others come with babies which is a big challenge to us,” Mbambu said.

She said their group is overwhelmed by the big number of human trafficking survivors who need to be rehabilitated but unfortunately, she said, they don’t have enough resources nor do they have a rehabilitation centre for the victims.

“We have so far skilled 350 survivors income generating activities so that they to live a decent life and forget what they went through. I appeal to government to lend a hand and establish a rehabilitation centre for such survivors and also forge a way of how they can end the vice,” she said.

The Bishop of Fort Portal Catholic diocese, Rt.Rev.Dr.Robert Muhiirwa talked of the difficulties Ugandans go through while working abroad, especially in Arab countries.

“We are aware of some cases reported about those who have been killed, tortured, sexually abused from Arab countries when they are taken to work as housemaids among other jobs. There are also cases of slavery reported by those people who go abroad for kyeyo [work]. Our children are suffering but still, more are going and others still want to go,” Bishop Mihiirwa said.

He said some Ugandans are lured to good jobs but unfortunately end up in misery and being enslaved.

He called upon government to do something to end the vice and fight against this evil.

Sr. Martha Nambi of the Holy Cross, Justice and Peace Ministry said they recently engaged 56 human trafficking survivors from Rwenzori Sub-region, in a retreat and are currently undergoing medical examination after some getting health complications.

She said due to unemployment in Uganda some illegal companies have taken advantage to lure young people into human trafficking by promising them well-paying jobs abroad.

Rose Kembabazi, a victim from Kabarole district, said she was trafficked by her aunt to DR Congo but upon reaching there, she was raped, got pregnant and infected with HIV/Aids by a Congolese national.

“As we were going, she told me that we would be staying together but when we reached there, I was taken to another family where I worked without any pay. A Congolese national raped me. I conceived I am now with the baby but I do not even know the father,” she said.

Facts

Last month, nine people were arrested in Masaka city on allegations of human trafficking, fraud and impersonation after 307 youth were found confined in a hotel in Nyendo, Masaka city suburb.

The victims were rescued by the state minister for gender and culture, Peace Regis Mutuuzo who said that she received information from security agencies in Masaka.

The 2021 Uganda Human Rights Commission report indicated that a total of 1,295 persons were victims of trafficking out of whom 790 were victims of transnational trafficking, 475 were victims of internal trafficking, and 30 victims were unknown.

The same report shows that a total of 713 victims were female adults, 285 were female juveniles, 86 were male juveniles, and 181 were male adults.

The most forms of exploitation for victims of trafficking in persons include sexual where 117 cases were registered, labour (94), forced marriage [47] illegal activity [19], and debt bondage [5].

https://thecooperator.news/mps-want-action-taken-against-karamoja-child-traffickers/

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