Police warn of concealed Somali trafficking through Uganda

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Law enforcement agencies have sounded the alarm over a growing trafficking route involving Somali nationals transiting through Uganda en route to Libya.

Speaking during a press conference at the police headquarters in Naguru on April 28, 2025 Derrick Basalirwa, the deputy national co-ordinator for the national office for Counter-Targeted Criminal Justice and the Office of Internal Affairs, said traffickers are exploiting Uganda’s eastern and northern borders to smuggle Somalis into Libya, often via Kenya and South Sudan.

“We have observed a concerning trend where Somali nationals are trafficked from Somalia, cross into Kenya, and then pass through Uganda, particularly via the eastern borders and the Elegu one-stop border post in the north,” Basalirwa said.

He warned that traffickers are increasingly using private trucks and concealing victims in car boots to move them across borders undetected.

“We urge all authorities at Elegu, Malaba, and other border points to be extra vigilant. When encountering foreign nationals with unclear travel intentions, ask more questions. Otherwise, we risk becoming facilitators of cross-border trafficking,” Basalirwa cautioned.

Students on holiday at risk

Basalirwa also issued a holiday caution to parents and guardians, warning that school-going children returning home for the holidays are highly vulnerable to traffickers, especially when left unsupervised.

“Parents often leave for work, leaving children at home alone. Meanwhile, traffickers exploit different platforms to lure them,” he said, adding that both the public and law enforcement must heighten vigilance during the holiday season.

He called for community-wide efforts to safeguard students from the growing threat of child trafficking.

Trafficking cases soar past 3,700

Giving an update from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) Trafficking in Persons mobile application, Basalirwa revealed that 3,777 trafficking cases have been recorded since the app was launched in 2023.

While noting that the figure represents cumulative cases over time, he stressed that a staggering 80% of the victims involved are children, highlighting the urgent need for intensified protection measures.

“This statistic is not just a number; it is a call to action. The majority of victims are our children. We cannot fight this vice alone; we need the public, parents, communities, and leaders to stand with us,” Basalirwa emphasised.

Basalirwa disclosed that 77% of trafficking suspects are male, with most perpetrators aged between 18 and 29, followed by those aged 30 to 49.

“It is particularly alarming that the biggest group involved are youths,” he said. “We call upon the youth to resist participating in trafficking activities. Otherwise, the law will take its course.”

He added that aggravated trafficking of children, which carries harsher penalties, remains a persistent challenge.

According to Basalirwa, most trafficking convictions have resulted in imprisonment rather than fines, signalling a tough stance by Uganda’s judiciary on trafficking crimes.

“We are glad that the courts are not letting traffickers off lightly. Imprisonment is the dominant sentence, as it should be, given the grave nature of trafficking in persons,” he said.

He explained that the majority of cases involved sex trafficking, with labour trafficking coming a distant second.

“The reality is grim. Sex trafficking, especially involving young girls and women, remains the leading form of exploitation,” Basalirwa noted.