The Government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, has initiated a vital campaign focused on eradicating the trafficking of girls across the nation.
The “Safe Migration” initiative is designed to educate all Ugandans about the perils of human trafficking while promoting safe migration practices.
This campaign specifically targets vulnerable communities, especially in Eastern Uganda, to raise awareness about the dangers linked to irregular migration.
It also aims to provide citizens with information on legal and secure pathways for employment opportunities abroad.
State Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Esther Anyakun, also raised concern over the rising number of young girls from Eastern Uganda being trafficked to Arab nations.
Recently, the government established a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, granting amnesty to stranded Ugandan girls, allowing them to return home.
Since then, over 200 girls have been successfully repatriated and the amnesty ends December 30, 2024.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development reports that many of these girls sought government help to return after being trafficked illegally through Kenya via porous borders.
During the campaign launch, the minister highlighted that a significant portion of trafficking victims to Arab countries originates from Eastern Uganda, noting that 50% of the 250 girls recently pardoned by the Saudi Arabian government are from this region.
She stressed that an immediate action is essential from the relevant authorities to tackle the pressing issue of porous borders in the eastern region of the country, as suspected traffickers continue to exploit these vulnerabilities.
She also called for collaboration of local leaders, communities and law enforcement to effectively fight human trafficking.
The minister also underscored the critical need to report any suspected traffickers and instances of exploitation, reaffirming the government’s dedication to strengthening border security and working with international partners to repatriate victims and dismantle trafficking networks.
