Authorities in Uganda have arrested two individuals and rescued 17 young people following a police operation targeting an alleged human trafficking network operating under the guise of a community development organization.
The operation, conducted by officers from Kira Division Police on the morning of June 9, 2026, uncovered what investigators describe as a suspected recruitment scheme that allegedly lured vulnerable youths with promises of vocational training and overseas employment opportunities.
Police identified the suspects as 22-year-old Clement Edenyu and 19-year-old Agnes Abungo, both residents of Kiganda Zone in Kireka, located within Kira Municipality in Wakiso District. Investigators allege the pair served as coordinators for an organization known as “Alliance for Global,” which is now at the center of an ongoing criminal investigation.
According to preliminary findings, the organization allegedly targeted young people from several districts across Uganda, including Soroti, Serere, Moyo, Kumi, Amolatar, Amuria, Apac, Kole, Dokolo, Kalaki, Ngora and Lira. The victims, aged between 17 and 21, were reportedly persuaded to join the program after being promised training in nursing, tailoring and mechanical skills, alongside potential employment opportunities abroad.
Investigators say those promises never materialized.
Police further allege that each recruit was required to pay a registration fee of UG Shs400,000/=before being enrolled in the program.
Concerns were raised after reports emerged that the promised training and employment pathways were not being provided, prompting law enforcement authorities to launch an operation into the organization’s activities.
During the raid, officers discovered the victims living in eight rented rooms in Kiganda Zone, Kireka D.
The circumstances surrounding their accommodation and recruitment are now a key focus of the investigation as authorities work to establish whether the operation formed part of a broader trafficking network.
All 17 victims have since been safely reunited with their families, while the two suspects remain in police custody pending further inquiries.
The case underscores growing concerns across East Africa over increasingly sophisticated recruitment schemes that exploit economic hardship and youth unemployment by offering seemingly legitimate pathways to education, skills development and foreign employment. Human trafficking experts have repeatedly warned that criminal networks often use such promises to attract vulnerable individuals seeking better economic prospects.
Speaking on the matter, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala confirmed the arrests and rescue operation, noting that investigations remain ongoing as authorities seek to determine the full extent of the alleged scheme and identify any additional individuals who may have been involved.
Police have urged members of the public to exercise caution when engaging with organizations offering overseas employment, training opportunities or recruitment services, and to verify the legitimacy of such entities through relevant government agencies before making financial commitments.
