Children Take Lead in the New Annual Crime Report on Countering Trafficking in Persons 2023.
In the new report, generated from the data compiled, coordinated, and monitored, indicates that Children have remained the most victimized, at least 510 being 50.69% of children have been abused in human trafficking according to the report.
KAMPALA- The Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with the National Task Force Committee for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, has released a 2023 national report on countering trafficking in persons indicating a surge in trafficking of children.
In the new report, generated from the data compiled, coordinated, and monitored, indicates that Children have remained the most victimized, at least 510 being 50.69% of children have been abused in human trafficking according to the report.
Godfrey Kigenyi Basalirwa, National Coordinator Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Internal Affairs described that the categories of cases of trafficking registered during the period under review include Human Trafficking and Child trafficking.
On Friday in Kampala, during the launch, he addressed journalists and stakeholders that Uganda was the main source country for victims of trafficking as well as transit and destination country for victims of domestic and transnational trafficking for both juveniles and adults.
Irregular and unguided labor migration was the most contributing factor for trafficking of Ugandans to foreign countries and foreign nationals to or through Uganda, he said.
Majority of the victims were recruited in the trafficking trap through deceptive means, some of whom were aided with the use of fraudulent travel documents, however, the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development has since come up with guidelines to streamline the externalization process.
“A total of 1006 cases were registered from January to December 2023 compared to 1200 incidents registered for the same period in 2022, giving a decrease of 16.16%. However, Human Trafficking was registered with 496 persons while child trafficking was registered with 510 , as the highest number in July with 58 cases followed by November with 56 cases while the lowest was April with 22 cases followed by June with 33 cases.”
Kigenyi added that Human trafficking was registered highest in July with 55 cases followed by February with 52 cases while the lowest was registered in October with 30 cases followed by December and March with 31 cases each.
Others are domestic with 458 case files while transnational trafficking with 10 case files. Domestic category was registered highest in the month of September with 59 cases followed by October with 56 cases while the lowest was April with 18 cases followed by January with 26 cases.
In comparison with the year ending in 2022, domestic trafficking was highest in the month of March with 67 cases followed by July with 60 cases while the lowest was December with 11 cases followed by September with 26 cases. Transnational trafficking registered the month of May with 13 cases, February with 09 cases while the lowest was October and December with 01 cases each followed by November with 02 cases, he noted.
Preventive measures such as crime prevention through ensuring institutional functionality and community policing, enhancing investigations through digitization, continued specialized training to stakeholders, strengthening coordination among stakeholders to alleviate the gaps in the justice chain and advocating for logistical support.
Radio talk shows, TV messages, engaging police, ISO and other stakeholders should be brought to board, local authorities in Karamoja regions have been strengthened, abrupt roadblocks have been implemented , liaisons have been conducted between partners either local and international but most of the support comes from CSOs, Kigenyi included.
The Chairperson of the National Taskforce, Lieutenant General, Joseph Musanyufu in hus remarks, urged all Ugandans to continue with the spirit of countering trafficking in persons for a safer, orderly, and regular migration in Uganda.
“As we release the National Report on Countering Trafficking in Persons in Uganda for 2023, we want to assure Ugandans that in 2024, the focus will continue to be put on the enhancement of public awareness and sensitization campaigns against trafficking in persons, capacity building of investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers, and other stakeholders, and strengthening coordination amongst stakeholders to ensure mainly punishment of offe
nders and protection of victims.”