Henry Mukasa, Cyprian Musoke and Simon Longoli
24 June 2009
Kampala — Parliament yesterday heard of how some female Ugandans taken to Iraq with promises of lucrative jobs, ended up trapped in slavery and forced sex.
Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA) told the House presided over by the deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, he had spoken with five of the victims over the phone.
He said the women were promised secretarial jobs but ended up as house maids. "They were used for other things outside the agreed work," Kyanjo said.
"Although they were promised $400, none of them has received payment. They tried to raise these issues with the people they were working for."
"Unfortunately, they were picked up and put in what appears to be a 'safe house'," Kyanjo narrated to an attentive House. "They talked to me one after another. They said they are frequently beaten by their masters," added Kyanjo.
The MP reported that the stranded girls were taken to Iraq by a company, Uganda Veterans which has offices in Muyenga, a Kampala suburb. According to the MP, the women recall they dealt with Godfrey Karingiri, a one Kyalimpa and Gordon, all officials at the company.
He said the girls include Rachel and Mable Malagala, daughters of Mrs. Joyce Semakula of Katwe in Makindye Division and Doreen Nalubwama Kisakye, a daughter of Christopher Sempala of Nakulabye Eliot Zone in Rubaga Division.
Others are Enid Tushabe of Jeremiah Karuhanga from Kanyaryeru in Kiruhura and Sanyu Nakazibwe, a daughter to Sarah Nassimbwa of Makerere Kivulu in Kawempe Division.
"The girls have requested me to ask Parliament to find a way of bringing them back," Kyanjo said. He added: "I ask Parliament to direct the ministries of gender and labour and that of foreign affairs to explain how the purported company is running. Parliament should stop this company," he appealed. Kyanjo said he had reported the girls' plight to the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and the Human Rights Watch.
Kadaga said if the report was true it would be tantamount to human trafficking by disguise. She directed the clerk to take up the matter with the two ministries.
Both ministers and their deputies did not attend Parliament. Sebuliba Mutumba (DP) said the case showed the urgency for the Government to design a policy for kyeyo seekers and companies ferrying them.
"They are being abused, raped and defiled."
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