By Spy Uganda
A total of 16 police officers have completed the two weeks of multi-agency training in investigating trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants.
The two weeks course ran from 6th to 17th September 2021 and had participants from the Police, anti-trafficking NGOs, Ministry of Labour and Social protection and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).
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The officers benefited from a wide range of areas from the experienced facilitators in Neighbourhood Investigation of Trafficking, Police surveillance, collection of evidence, interview techniques, interception, screening and initial identification interviews, operational intelligence, organized crime groups profiling and modus operandi, financial investigations and anti-money laundering in an international context, coordination and cooperation at national and international level
The course was funded by European Union, GIZ and Better Migration Management (BMM) and implemented by CIVIPOL.
Human trafficking is a major problem in Uganda. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report from 2020, estimates determined that traffickers are currently exploiting 7,000 to 12,000 children through sex trafficking.
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The report also outlines how human trafficking in Uganda primarily takes the form of forced physical labor and sexual exploitation.
Uganda lacks employment opportunities, quality education and social welfare systems to aid the nation’s young population. The lack of opportunities and access to resources has left young Ugandans who live in rural and underserved areas vulnerable to exploitation.
Most young Ugandans emigrants go to the Gulf States to work as laborers, security officers, construction workers and other forms of untrained labor, putting them at risk of human trafficking syndicates.
