Activists march to raise awareness on human trafficking

Activists have cautioned Ugandans living in rural areas to be well acquainted and aware of organisations and individuals which come into their localities offering employment opportunities.

The call was made during the annual walk which took place yesterday.

The march is aimed at raising awareness on human trafficking so that people are in position to find possible ways of curbing challenges of human trafficking in the country.

The former coordinator of Anti Human Trafficking in persons unit in Uganda Police Force, Moses Binoga , said many licensed labour organisations are now seeking to recruit labour from rural areas where many people are unaware of dangers of this trade.

He noted that there are many fake companies busy traversing villages looking for people and promising people fake job contracts, visas among others.

He however noted that they are working hand in hand with the police and immigration department to intercept whoever wants to travel abroad in an illegal way at the airport.

“They are promising to get for the people job contracts and then visas which they tell them to hide. So we are working together with immigration and police to make sure that we stop whoever wants to travel in that irregular way,"he said.

The executive director, Rehab Uganda Annet Kirabira noted that the annual march is majorly to sound strong warnings to companies and individuals who are taking Ugandans abroad in an illegal way.

“I want to take this opportunity to sound a serious warning to the individuals and other companies who are taking Ugandans abroad illegally that the law is there and if one is attempted to do it, he or she will be charged in court of law and can be liable to imprisonment for five years,”she said.