Stakeholders discuss stemming drug, human trafficking by Ugandans

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Undertaking pilgrimage to Makkah is the 5th pillar of Islam but of late, it has become a big challenge for Ugandan Muslims, with some unscrupulous individuals marring the sanity of the religious rituals.

Apparently, everyone takes people to the holy city, which has seen a recent scenario where two Ugandan women were arrested on arrival, at Madinah Airport with suspected narcotics.

Women who are currently in detention in Saudi Arabia, form part of drug cartels that exploit weaknesses in the Hajj and Umrah events.

As a result, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, security agencies, labour recruitment and externalisation agencies, Hijja and Umrah offices, Migrant Workers Associations, have held a conference on combatting drug and human trafficking and preserving Uganda's reputation on the global stage, at the President's Office in Kampala.

Stakeholders posing for a picture after the conference on combatting drug and human trafficking and preserving Uganda's reputation on the global stage, at the President's Office in Kampala. (Courtesy photo)

Office of the President permanent secretary Hajj Yunus Kakande in a speech read by senior presidential advisor on Middle East Ambassador Dr Mohamed A. Kisuule, said the conference is a practical step to implement President Yoweri Museveni's directive. This directive followed various reports of Ugandans being involved in drug and human trafficking, especially in Saudi Arabia, China and Turkey, among other countries. 

"The President has been receiving reports and described the situation as an embarrassment to the image of the country. He urged stakeholders to jointly co-operate and create awareness on the consequences and strategies to combat trafficking in persons," Kakande said on Saturday (October 9, 2024).

Team needed

Guest of honour Director of Crime Intelligence Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira urged stakeholders to form a team or forum to internalise the problem and provide continuous assessments, which is expected to guide engagements of stakeholders, embassies and governments. He also pledged total support from security agencies, inform of application of modern technology, to detect and prevent the vice of drug and human trafficking.

"We have agreed on a raft of measures to deal with the problem of drug trafficking, otherwise the recent incident in Saudi Arabia, China and elsewhere have significant consequences for our image as a country," he said.

The victims

State Minister for Labour, Employment & Industrial Relations Esther Anyakun narrated her encounter with drug and human trafficking victims, during a recent visit in Saudi Arabia, saying most of them are unsuspecting Ugandans.

"I was in Saudi Arabia recently and met the Minister of Social Development. I appealed to their government to pardon Ugandans, but those fond of drug and human trafficking can't be released, because those are capital offences. You can't bend the laws," she said.

She emphasised the need to foster enhanced international co-operation, information sharing and sensitisation of migrant migrant workers before departure.

Unite to fight the vice

Senior presidential advisor on diaspora affairs Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi urged stakeholders to unite and address the pressing concern of drug and human trafficking. "Uganda is a land of promise, beacon of hope, yet we are now tarnished by the shadow of drug and human trafficking.  The time is now to take a decisive action."

He called for the immediate establishment of a robust co-ordination team, which can transcend borders to dismantle the bad elements. He also disclosed that a team from President's office and gender ministry will next week head to the Gulf-region in a bid to engage with governments and work on stringent measures to combat the vice.

Willingness to co-operate

Deputy ambassador of Uganda to Rihayd (Saudi Arabia) Sheikh Sulaiman Guggwa thanked President Museveni for allowing the Muslim community to work hand in hand with labour externalisation sector, in order to come up with workable solutions toward combating the vice.

He expressed the embassy's readiness and willingness to co-operate with stakeholders, step by step, to establish comprehensive partnerships in fighting drug and human trafficking.

Sex work and drug abuse

Head of diaspora department at foreign affairs ministry Ambassador Johnny Muhindo highlighted that regrettably, some distressed migrant workers tend to turn to sex work. In the due course, they turn to using of illicit products, including drugs and alcohol.

He also attributed drug trafficking to misconceptions that, some migrant workers are misguided by their colleagues to carry drugs, such as pills, and cocaine, which will help them in adapting to the hot conditions abroad.

Data gathering

Associations of Recruitment Companies (ELAU & UEARA), Uganda Bureau of Haj Affairs, External Labour Power House, Migrant Workers Voice, and Federation of Associations for Uganda Migrant Workers Affairs, seized the opportunity to appeal to the Government, to integrate systems, track and gather data about migrant workers using digital means, and create a coordination team.

The conference, which was attended by 300 people, is expected to serve as a blueprint for future counter-trafficking efforts; building upon existing interventions, and providing timely steps into international collaboration on the subject of drug and human trafficking.