Three in custody at Goli border over suspected child trafficking

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Police at the Goli border post in Nebbi district have arrested and detained a 42-year-old man along with two other individuals in connection with the suspected trafficking of 24 children.

The prime suspect, John Bwona Oyirwoth from Jal Osiga in Mahagi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was found travelling with the children to the Ocea Zone in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, located in Madi-Okollo district.

A second suspect, Kacwiny Kapara, a woman, claimed they were relocating the children to a refugee camp in Uganda due to escalating violence in Jal Osiga, Mahagi-DRC.

Authorities stated that neither of the two main suspects possessed any documentation from authorities in either Uganda or the DRC.

Kapara denied any involvement in child trafficking, insisting that they were seeking asylum in Uganda.

The third suspect, identified only as Oyen, also stated that they were heading to Ocea in Rhino Camp in the West Nile region to seek refuge.

The Resident District Commissioner of Nebbi, Robert Abak, described the situation as clear evidence of child trafficking, warning that Uganda was being used as a transit route to an unknown destination.



Sunday Ogenmungu, chairperson of Jupangira sub-county in Nebbi district, said investigations are underway to fully understand the motive behind the movement of the children.



Ogenmungu urged the public to remain vigilant and to reject any involvement in child trafficking.

By press time, the suspects were still being held at Goli Police Post, while the children remained in protective custody at the border reception centre.