TRAFFICKING SCANDAL! Gender Ministry Orders Police to Arrest MP Over Human Trafficking to Dubai
KAMPALA – A high-profile human trafficking case has rocked Uganda’s political and labour export sectors, as former Ntungamo Woman MP aspirant Winnie Twinomugisha accuses Ruhama and his wife of luring her into a trafficking ring under the pretense of securing her a teaching job in the United Arab Emirates.
A leaked letter from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, dated July 21, 2025, addressed to the Director of Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), has called for the immediate arrest and investigation of Benjamin Kamukama and Ms. Kamukama Evas Tugume over allegations of extortion and human trafficking.
The letter, signed by Milton Turyasiima, for the Permanent Secretary, confirms that the ministry received an official complaint from Twinomugisha, who claimed she was trafficked to Dubai after paying Sh5 million in placement fees—collected outside the ministry’s formal processes.
According to the letter, Twinomugisha alleges that she was sold and locked in a room with other young Ugandan women upon arrival in Dubai. She managed to escape and seek refuge at the Ugandan Embassy, which facilitated her return home.
Quoting Regulation 38(8) of the Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan Migrant Workers) Regulations, 2021, the ministry emphasized that it is a criminal offense to externalize workers without a license, thereby implicating the MP and his wife in illegal labour recruitment.
Twinomugisha’s Ordeal
Speaking to reporters after her return, Twinomugisha detailed a harrowing experience. A former political aspirant who contested in the 2021 elections, she said she turned to labour export after facing economic hardship. She reached out to MP Kamukama—whom she describes as a longtime friend—who assured her of a domestic teaching job through THK-Company, allegedly linked to his wife.
To finance the move, she borrowed over UGX 7 million from a SACCO, using her father as a guarantor. However, she claims that upon arrival in Dubai, she was abandoned at a trafficking center and narrowly avoided having her passport and phone confiscated.
“Other girls were not as lucky,” she said. “Some were sold, and I witnessed things I can’t even describe.”
In viral videos from last year, Twinomugisha was seen pleading for rescue, alleging that she and other Ugandan girls were being prepared for sale to unknown buyers. Since returning, she says her attempts to contact MP Kamukama have been futile.
MP Kamukama Denies Allegations
In response, Hon. Kamukama has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He confirmed that he assisted Twinomugisha in traveling to the UAE but insists she did not pay the money directly to him.
“She’s unfairly accusing me. I only connected her to a company,” he told journalists. “She owes a UGX 17 million loan and is making this political. I’m open to dialogue, but she’s blocking me and her husband.”
Kamukama claims that he has helped over 150 women travel to Saudi Arabia, most of whom have successfully secured jobs. He characterized the accusations as an attempt to tarnish his name and politicize a private dispute.
He also disclosed that Twinomugisha owes Rubaare SACCO UGX 21 million and had allegedly claimed to be fleeing arrest when she left for Dubai.
“I was cleared by previous investigations,” he added. “If she continues spreading lies, I will take legal action.”
BBC Investigation Adds Heat to the Scandal
The ministry’s letter and Twinomugisha’s personal account come in the wake of a recent BBC investigation that exposed the trafficking of Ugandan girls to the Gulf states, particularly Dubai and Saudi Arabia before sexually exploiting them. The exposé highlighted the role of corrupt labour recruitment agents and political cover-ups, sparking national outrage and calls for stricter oversight. Here is the BBC story: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrE.is6nspo.gEAextXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1759318843/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bbc.co.uk%2fnews%2farticles%2fcx2r9y3kxy9o/RK=2/RS=YtO3neO2kZaRFH4.DJpJvKWrK94-
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