Ugandan Accused of Running Dubai Sex Ring Detained in UAE

The Ugandan man at the centre of a BBC investigation into the exploitation of vulnerable women in Dubai has been detained in the United Arab Emirates, according to legal sources and confirmation linked to Interpol Uganda.

Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, a former London bus driver, was identified by the BBC as the alleged boss of a degrading sex-trade ring operating in Dubai’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.

Undercover footage captured him boasting that he could supply women for sex parties at a starting price of $1,000 (£750), promising that the women would do “pretty much everything” clients desired.

It is not yet clear what charges Mwesigwa faces in the UAE. Authorities in Dubai have made no public announcement, but a local law firm confirmed to the BBC that he is being held at the Central Prison Centre in Al Awir.

They added that his detention follows a red notice issued by Interpol Uganda, a request for police worldwide to apprehend him pending extradition.

The Ugandan Embassy in Abu Dhabi last week issued a statement confirming that “investigations of human trafficking are ongoing and action has been taken by the authorities of the UAE.”

Sources close to the matter told the BBC the statement was a reference to Mwesigwa’s arrest.

Voices of Exploited Women

The BBC World Service investigation revealed harrowing accounts from young Ugandan women who travelled to Dubai on the promise of jobs in supermarkets or hotels, only to be forced into prostitution and crushing debt.

One survivor, identified only as Mia, said she was trapped in Mwesigwa’s network and recounted disturbing demands from clients, including one who regularly asked to defecate on the women. Prostitution is illegal in Dubai.

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The investigation also linked Mwesigwa’s circle to the deaths of two Ugandan women—Monic Karungi and Kayla Birungi—who reportedly fell from high-rise apartments in Dubai. While authorities ruled their deaths as suicides, relatives and friends have questioned whether the cases were properly investigated.

Mwesigwa has denied all allegations, claiming he only helped women find housing and introduced them to wealthy partygoers. “I told you I am just a party person who invites big spenders on my tables, hence making many girls flock to my table. That makes me know many girls and that’s it,” he told the BBC.

Ugandan Government’s Response

The revelations have provoked outrage in Kampala. Uganda’s Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahare condemned the exploitation as “despicable” and vowed to ensure justice.

“This gentleman, featured in the investigative @BBCWorld story, must be arrested. We shall work with @Interpol to ensure he is brought to justice. The desperation of our young people for income and employment should never be exploited by treating them as sex objects,” the minister said in a statement posted on X.

In Uganda’s parliament, lawmakers described the findings as “disturbing,” urging closer cooperation with international partners to dismantle trafficking networks that prey on the country’s youth.

Mwesigwa’s case has thrown renewed attention on the plight of African migrants in the Gulf states, where stories of deception, exploitation, and abuse are often reported but rarely lead to accountability.

With Interpol now involved, and Mwesigwa in custody, Uganda faces a critical test in pushing for extradition and prosecution.

For the families of the victims and the women who survived, the hope is that this case will mark a turning point in protecting vulnerable migrants from exploitation abroad.