Reports emerging from Dubai indicate that Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, the Ugandan man at the centre of the BBC’s explosive investigation into sex trafficking in the UAE, has been rearrested after allegedly attempting to flee the country.
Mwesigwa was first detained in the wake of the BBC World Service documentary, which exposed his role in luring vulnerable Ugandan women to Dubai under the guise of supermarket or hotel jobs, only to force them into prostitution and extreme abuse. The investigation also linked him to the mysterious deaths of two Ugandan women, Monic Karungi (2022) and Kayla Birungi (2021), who both fell from high-rise apartments tied to his network.
However, sources in Dubai say Mwesigwa was initially released because authorities lacked direct evidence connecting him to the women’s deaths.
Rearrest at the Airport
New information now suggests that he was rearrested at Dubai International Airport as he attempted to escape to Turkey, reportedly intending to connect onward to Germany.
Mwesigwa is Ugandan by origin but is said to also hold German citizenship, which could have facilitated his escape.
According to Ugandans in the UAE who are familiar with his operations, he has lived in Dubai for more than 25 years and built significant wealth by pimping women across the city’s glamour districts.
“Charles thought he could slip away quietly after the storm, but they caught him as he was about to board. He was heading to Turkey, from where he wanted to connect to Germany,” one Ugandan based in Dubai told this website.
Charges Still Unclear
As of now, little is known about the exact charges Mwesigwa faces in the UAE. Authorities have not released a formal statement, and neither the Ugandan embassy in Abu Dhabi nor Dubai police have confirmed details of his detention.
What remains clear, however, is that Mwesigwa’s case has shone a spotlight on the trafficking pipeline between Uganda and the Gulf states.
The BBC’s exposé revealed how women were saddled with huge “debts” upon arrival covering airfare, visas, and accommodation, and then forced into sexual exploitation to pay them off.
Survivors described degrading acts, including defecation and violent group assaults, often at the hands of wealthy foreign clients.
A Turning Point?
The latest development has gripped both Ugandan and international audiences, with many wondering whether Mwesigwa’s downfall will finally trigger meaningful action against traffickers who exploit desperate jobseekers.
Uganda earns over $1.2 billion annually in remittances from migrant workers, but activists have long warned that the lucrative industry often shields traffickers who prey on young women.
For now, Mwesigwa’s fate rests with Dubai’s judicial system, renowned for its harsh penalties.
Having once boasted that “Dubai is mine” and that he could never be reported, the alleged sex-ring boss now finds himself in custody, facing an uncertain future.
This website will continue to provide updates as more details emerge on the charges and proceedings surrounding his detention.
