Six suspected human traffickers have been arrested by police in Rwenzori West in coordination with its Fortportal counterparts. The suspects are staff coordinators and staffs of Empowered Consumerism, operating under Dream Visionaries in Africa.
Police say the accused lured, recruited victims under a fraudulent employment and business scheme. Police have identified the accused as Mugumisiriza Lyndon 22, Aligonza Kenneth 22, Namisi Godfrey 20, Namakoyo Esther 24, Nafuna Rebecca and Nandudu Enida.
Senior Commissioner of Police, Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson said the preliminary findings indicate that the victims received calls from Namisi and Namakoye, inviting them for jobs in Fortportal.
“As a result, four victims mobilised and transported themselves, from the districts of Mbale and Bulambuli up to Fortportal. However, when they reached Fortportal, they found no jobs and the employers instead asked them to pay 1.6million shillings for membership and to recruit more victims through a pyramid scheme,” Enanga said.
Enanga has identified the victims of the fraudulent jobs as Muyama Phionah 29, Napokoli Edwin Isaiah 20, Mutuwa Doreen 24, and Nandudu Sophie 20. These are mostly residents of Bulambuli and Mbale districts.
“As the police, we want to reaffirm our commitment in combating all forms of trafficking in persons networks, to help mitigate the risks of labour exploitation,” Enanga said.
Police have urged whoever believes has information about a potential trafficking situation to alert its human trafficking desk at CID headquarters in Kibuli.