Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), has attributed the growing desperation among Ugandan youth to the surge in human trafficking cases across the country.
He made the remarks today during the closing ceremony of a research study on Trafficking in Persons at the John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC) in Nsambya, Kampala.
Msgr. Kauta highlighted that many young people, in a bid to escape hardship, are increasingly falling victim to traffickers who exploit their vulnerability through false job promises.
Her Excellency Yvonne Katja, the Austrian Ambassador to Uganda, echoed the urgency of the issue, calling for thorough investigations into trafficking networks and a united front in combating the crisis.
According to the latest findings from the JPIIJPC and the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre at Makerere University, at least 142 Ugandans are trafficked every month, with Napak and Moroto districtsbeing the most affected.
As of December 2024, 3,259 victims were identified, signaling a serious rise in cases.
The forms of exploitation reported include sexual slavery, organ harvesting, and forced labor.
Fr. James Moro, Project Coordinator at JPIIJPC, revealed that victims are often deceived by false job offers as housemaids, security guards, or supermarket workers.
He emphasized that poverty, broken homes, and lack of educationare key risk factors for trafficking.
Despite a 16.6% decrease in reported trafficking cases in 2023 compared to 2022, the figures remain alarming.
Of the 1,698 registered victims in 2023, 1,056 were children and 642 adults.
However, only 1,006 cases were reported to the police, and just 11 convictions have been secured so far, out of 331 cases submitted to court.
The findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened law enforcement, community awareness, and cross-sector collaboration to dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable populations.
By Ben Musanje
18th July 2025
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