Ugandan diplomat expelled amid human trafficking allegations
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the envoy has suggested that the woman in question was attempting to stay in the UK by seeking asylum, painting the incident as a misunderstanding.
Three weeks ago, a senior Ugandan envoy quietly returned from London, but not without controversy. The diplomat, a top leader at the Ugandan Mission to the UK, is now facing serious allegations of running a human trafficking operation, reportedly smuggling Ugandan women into the UK under the guise of hiring domestic workers.
Sources within Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that British authorities uncovered that the women brought by the envoy were later exploited and forced into domestic servitude, with the diplomat allegedly profiting from their labor.
The envoy, however, has vehemently denied the accusations, threatening legal action if his name is publicly disclosed. He claims the allegations are fabricated, stating, “The information you have is concocted and full of falsehoods.”
The envoy’s troubles began when one of the trafficked women reportedly escaped and exposed the fraudulent nature of her employment, leading to an investigation by British intelligence. After months of surveillance, the diplomat was expelled from the UK, and his recall to Uganda followed shortly thereafter.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the envoy has suggested that the woman in question was attempting to stay in the UK by seeking asylum, painting the incident as a misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain comments from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Vincent Bagiire, and the envoy’s former supervisor in the UK, Amb. Nimisha Madhvani, have been unsuccessful.
While the envoy’s official tour of duty had already concluded, sources indicate that he was under consideration for redeployment to Dubai, a post recently marred by another diplomatic scandal involving illegal gambling.
This case adds to a growing list of controversies involving Uganda’s foreign missions. In recent months, diplomats have been embroiled in scandals ranging from money laundering in Abuja and Algiers to embezzlement in New York and tax evasion in Kinshasa.
The incident follows the high-profile expulsion of Uganda’s envoy to Canada, Joy Ruth Acheng, and further underscores the increasing scrutiny on Uganda’s diplomatic corps, raising concerns about the integrity of its foreign missions.
