Ugandan Women Lured to Dubai Trapped in Exploitation, BBC Probe Reveals

 A BBC investigation has uncovered an alleged sex trafficking network operating in Dubai’s upscale districts, leaving young Ugandan women trapped in abuse, debt, and danger.

At the centre of the allegations is Charles Mwesigwa, a Ugandan man who once claimed to be a London bus driver. Posing as a party organiser, a BBC undercover reporter spoke with Mwesigwa, who appeared to openly offer women for sex parties at a base rate of $1,000 (£740). He described the women as “open-minded” and willing to meet extreme client demands.

Behind the glamour of Dubai’s nightlife, the investigation found a darker reality: Ugandan women recruited with promises of retail or hospitality jobs were allegedly coerced into sex work instead. Several victims said they were immediately saddled with debts for visas, flights, and housing — debts that grew rapidly and forced them into degrading acts to repay.

One survivor, “Mia,” recounted being forced to endure violent and humiliating fetishes, including defecation, at the request of wealthy clients. Another woman, “Lexi,” said she was offered money to be gang-raped, filmed, and abused — and claimed police refused to intervene when she sought help.

The probe also raised concerns about suspicious deaths linked to Mwesigwa’s network. Two Ugandan women, Monic Karungi and Kayla Birungi, died after falling from high-rise apartments in Dubai in 2021 and 2022. Both cases were officially ruled as suicides, but families and friends dispute the findings, pointing to inconsistencies in toxicology reports and unanswered questions about their final days.

Monic’s relatives say she was trying to leave Mwesigwa’s control shortly before her death. Her family has never recovered her remains, and she is believed to be buried in an unmarked grave in Dubai.

Activists warn these cases highlight a wider pipeline of exploitation. Thousands of Ugandans migrate to Gulf states each year seeking work, contributing over $1.2 billion annually to Uganda’s economy in remittances. But, campaigners say, many young women are falling victim to trafficking networks instead of finding the opportunities they were promised.

Mwesigwa denies all allegations, insisting he is simply a “party organiser” who knows many women socially. He told the BBC: “These are all false allegations. I am just a party person.”

Dubai police did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

For families of victims, the unanswered questions remain painful. “We are all looking at Monic’s death,” said her relative Michael. “But who is there for the girls still alive? They’re still there. Still suffering.”