Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has called on the Ugandan government to urgently investigate shocking claims made in a recent BBC Eye documentary exposing the trafficking and abuse of Ugandan women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The investigative piece, widely reported in Ugandan media under the title “Death in Dubai”, alleges that Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, a former London-based driver, is at the center of a prostitution ring targeting Ugandan women lured to Dubai under false promises of legal employment.
Using undercover footage, survivor testimonies, and digital forensics, the BBC reveals how women are tricked into traveling abroad, only to be forced into sex work under abusive and coercive conditions.
The documentary also links Mwesigwa’s alleged network to at least two suspicious deaths of Ugandan women in the UAE.
“This is a deeply disturbing revelation, We must reignite the debate on the protection of Ugandan migrant workers, particularly young women in the Middle East. What we need now is not just statements but concrete action.” Tayebwa told Parliament.
Tayebwa also highlighted the financial exploitation faced by Ugandan workers abroad.
“Other countries secure starting salaries of up to $2,000 for their citizens in similar roles. Our people are left vulnerable, with little to no protection,” he noted.
Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi recounted the ordeal of a woman from western Uganda who was promised a job in a Dubai supermarket but was instead forced into prostitution. When she escaped and reported to the police, she was dismissed as mentally unstable.
“The DPP closed the case. Where can such a victim turn for justice?” Opendi questioned, urging Parliament to fast-track the Employment Bill and the Sexual Offences Bill to enhance migrant protections.
Amuria Woman MP Suzan Amero urged the government to take full control of overseas recruitment processes to prevent abuse, while Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda criticized the government for reacting more swiftly to abuses abroad than to similar violations within Uganda.
Tayebwa agreed that domestic labor concerns also need immediate attention.
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Muwada Nkuyinji added that many Ugandans remain stranded in the Middle East, desperately in need of government intervention.
Responding on behalf of the government, Minister of State for Industry David Bahati confirmed that the Ministry of Gender has launched an investigation into the documentary’s allegations.
The BBC’s findings have reignited national scrutiny of Uganda’s labor export practices, underscoring the urgent need for tighter oversight, stronger international labor agreements, and comprehensive protection for migrant workers especially women.