KAMPALA — The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has launched a formal investigation into allegations that Uganda’s National Identification Register (NIR) was compromised and used to facilitate a transnational sex-trafficking ring targeting young Ugandan women.
The probe follows a BBC investigative report implicating Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa and his alleged associates in luring women to Dubai under false promises of employment, only to force them into sexual exploitation. The report includes claims that traffickers accessed victims' personal data such as names, addresses, and next of kin via Uganda’s national ID system.
In a public statement issued on Friday, NIRA confirmed it is working closely with the Uganda Police Force and the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO) to verify these claims. “Once the investigation is complete, individuals found culpable will be prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law,” the authority said.
While NIRA did not specify who will lead the probe or the timeline for its conclusion, it emphasized that the integrity of the National Identification Register remains a top priority. “We use advanced security protocols including encryption, real-time monitoring, and role-based access controls,” NIRA stated, adding that any employee found guilty of data misuse faces criminal prosecution.
The revelations have sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny of both labour export practices and the security of national data systems. Civil society groups and digital privacy advocates have called for urgent reforms. “This case is a test of whether Uganda can truly uphold its Data Protection and Privacy Act,” said a Kampala-based digital rights activist. “The public deserves transparency and assurance that their information is not being weaponized.”
The BBC exposé has also reignited calls for tighter regulation of labour export firms, many of which operate with minimal oversight. Several MPs and activists are urging the government to impose stricter vetting processes for agencies sending workers abroad, especially to the Middle East.
NIRA said it will publish the findings of the ongoing investigation and is committed to enhancing system safeguards in line with international best practices. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have been urged to expedite related inquiries into the broader trafficking network, as the country grapples with the human cost of modern-day slavery.