Charles Mwesigwa, a Ugandan being accused of establishing sexual networks involving Ugandan girls
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I A shocking BBC investigation has exposed Charles Mwesigwa, a Ugandan man who is accused of running a secret sex network in some of Dubai’s wealthiest neighborhoods.
Mwesigwa, who once worked as a bus driver in London, allegedly recruited vulnerable young women from Uganda with promises of decent jobs in the Gulf.
But instead of employment, the women were reportedly trapped in sex work, forced into debt bondage, and threatened if they refused to comply.
Undercover footage recorded Mwesigwa boasting about managing “25 girls” who, according to him, would do “almost anything” for rich clients, with fees starting at $1,000 (about Shs 3.7 million). He is further accused of arranging degrading “fetish” parties for the super-wealthy, some involving extreme abuse.
Former associates claim he worked with recruiters in Uganda to lure desperate women, later charging them for travel and visas. Once in Dubai, they say, the women were locked into a cycle of exploitation.
Tragedy has also surrounded his network. Two Ugandan women—Monica Karungi and Kayla Birungi—died in their apartments in Dubai in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
While authorities ruled the deaths as suicides, families insist the cases were not thoroughly investigated.
Mwesigwa, however, has denied all allegations. He described himself as a “party man” who simply mingles with many women, dismissing the claims as fabrications.
Ugandan activists say the case underscores the darker side of labour migration to the Gulf. While remittances contribute billions to Uganda’s economy, they warn that countless young women remain at risk of exploitation under unregulated recruitment systems.
Families of victims continue to call for justice, fearing many others are still trapped in silence.
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