Exploitative Sex-Trade Network Exposed in Dubai: A Call for Justice

Wed Oct 22 2025 04:31:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The recent detention of Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa highlights ongoing issues of human trafficking and exploitation in Dubai, as revealed by a detailed BBC investigation.

In a significant development, Charles Mwesigwa, the leader of an exploitative sex-trade ring in Dubai, has been apprehended following a BBC investigation. Mwesigwa was found to have lured vulnerable women into prostitution under the guise of job opportunities. Despite the disturbing nature of the allegations, the exact charges against him remain unclear. This situation has raised urgent questions about human trafficking and the need for justice for the victims involved, many of whom were seeking better lives.

Warning: Contains disturbing content and graphic descriptions of sexual acts

The BBC understands the boss of a degrading sex-trade ring that exploited vulnerable women in Dubai's most glamorous neighbourhoods has been detained in the United Arab Emirates.

Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa, who was identified in a recent BBC investigation as running the network, was filmed telling an undercover reporter he could provide women for a sex party at a starting price of $1,000 (£750).

He also claimed that the women could do pretty much everything clients wanted them to and that he was a former London bus driver.

It is not clear what charges - if any - Mwesigwa is facing in the UAE, and the country's authorities have not yet made a public announcement about the case.

However, a Dubai law firm contacted by the BBC confirmed that Mwesigwa was in custody at the Central Prison Centre in Al Awir, Dubai. They stated a red notice had been issued against him by Interpol Uganda, indicating a request for his detention pending extradition.

A statement from the Ugandan embassy in Abu Dhabi noted that investigations of human trafficking are ongoing and action has been taken by the authorities of the UAE, relating to Mwesigwa's detention.

The investigation by the BBC highlighted testimonies from young Ugandan women who believed they were going to Dubai for legitimate jobs but instead found themselves trapped in prostitution. In some cases, women thought they would be working in supermarkets or hotels, as prostitution is illegal in Dubai.

Among the disturbing details, one woman, identified under the pseudonym Mia, revealed that clients had degraded them, with reports of clients requesting to defecate on them. Mwesigwa has denied all allegations, claiming he merely helps women find accommodation.

The investigation revealed further tragedies associated with Mwesigwa's network, including the deaths of two women connected to him, ruled as suicides despite calls for further investigation by loved ones.

In response to the investigation, Ugandan ministers have expressed deep concern, labeling it disturbing and committing to work with Interpol to pursue justice. This case has also shined a spotlight on the critical issue of human trafficking and the desperate conditions that many women face in pursuit of better lives.