MP, OC POLICE STATION ON SPOT OVER ALLEGED HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Ebong Emmanuel speaking during an interview as his colleagues look on. Photo by Godwin Abedican.

By Godwin Abedican
 
Arua
 
The Member of Parliament for Busiki North County in the Busoga sub region Hon Kayogera Yona, together with ASP John Sisye, the Officer in Charge (OC) station of Ayivu West Division Police station (Onduparaka), Arua city are on the spot over an allegation of human trafficking from Kampala to the West Nile.
 
It is alleged that, Hon. Kayogera in connivance with the OC last week on Tuesday November 11, 2024, ferried a total of 9 people from Kampala to reportedly work in Masindi but later proceeded with them to West Nile with the OC as the driver of one of the vehicles used in the deal.
 
In the genesis of this, the MP alleged to be owning a company called Kami-Safe energy advertised for workers and 12 people applied out if which there were 9 who were successfully recruited.
 
Upon being called, the 9 were informed that they would be traveling to their work station in Masindi. After leaving Kampala in the evening, they reached Masindi at around midnight where they spent the night, only to realize the next morning that they were continuing with the journey to Arua.
 
According to Ebong Emmnauel, one of the victims, they were told they would be working in Masindi at a monthly pay of 200,000 shillings and daily allowances of 5000 shillings including accommodation and feeding to be offered but when they reached Arua, all changed that they would be selling solar lights belonging to the MPs company called Kami-Safe energy and be paid on commission which made him and 3 other to object and demanded to be taken Back to Kampala.
 
“We set of for Masindi at around 8 in the evening. As we were leaving, I was not certain yet because some our colleagues were saying the director said we are going up to Arua. So, when I asked the driver (said to be the OC station), where are we really heading to? He said he was on his duty of driving and did not know exactly where we are going. But we were going to sleep in Masindi,” Ebong explained.
 
He says when they reached Arua, after induction on how they were supposed to make the sales, he got discouraged because the kind of business involves coning clients and he realized that he can’t do this and after being taken to Koboko, he lost the interest because when they reach clients, they begin telling stories about their products which were not clear and making clients to pay without being given receipts so that they are not able to claim when the lights fail to work.  
 
Mayanja Godfrey, resident of Mbuya-Kinawataka explains that after failing to come to terms with what they were supposed to do, they decided to report to police.
 
“The issue of accommodation and feeding has not been good at all. After reaching here, everything was different from what we were told. Seeing how they were doing their things is what we never expected. Some of us missed super the first day and the second day we were given only 2,000 shillings after one of our colleagues called him at night. The next day for those who never had something to eat, he gave us only 2000, shillings in the morning and 3000 shillings in the evening only for the 2 days but after that nothing was given to us.”
 
According to the suspects the person who drove them had a pistol around his waist, and he earlier told them he is a brother to the Member of Parliament, which driver they later identified while at Onduparaka when they reported their case as the OC Ayivu West police station Onduparaka who on sighting them dissociated himself.
 
However after the 4, Ebong Emmanuel aged 30 , Tushabe Vincent 24 years from Mulago , Mayanja Godfrey aged 26  and Ewiyu Julius aged 25 from Kasokoso-Kireka,  presented themselves to the police at Onduparaka , all turned biter for them as they allege that, the Member of parliament on being informed by the OC that they had reported to the police, stormed the police station commanding the OC station to lock them behind bars, a command the junior officers at the station could not decline due to fear of their boss, hence the 4 were locked in the cells for the whole night only to be released by one of the CIDs at the station after she was told the incidences that transpired.
 
When contacted over the matter, Hon Kayogera Yona says, the victims are after tarnishing his image.

“For me what I know is I advertised for workers and after reaching the work place, we give you conditions. We give you daily allowance if 5,000 and payment is on commission. We accommodate you, transport and we feed them. Those guys disappeared after reaching here and after disappearing, they called me at night at police. As I was moving away, the police asked me what could be done to them and if I had anywhere to accommodate them, I told the police I don’t have any place and then they said for their safety let them sleep in the cells. It was not me who locked them up. I was told these guys had opened up a case of trafficking against me. Please let them go ahead with their files. I don’t know what trafficking means. Let them try their luck. They can go to the president, they can go to the regional police, they can go to the DPP, those guys they want me to pay them for their stupidity,” he fumed on phone.

In seeking a response from the OC Ayivu West police station Onduparaka over the matter, he declined to comment saying, he is not responsible to speak on behalf of the police.
 
A case of human trafficking was been opened against the duo on November 15, 2024 at the station under Ref. 22/15/11/2024. The boys are currently accommodated at the police and being fed by some officers at the station.
 
According to Kumakech Salim the RCC Arua, the leadership of the security in the city has taken the matter up and is following the case to ensure the matter gets to a logical conclusion.
 
By press time the 4 victims were being accommodated within the police station and were being fed by some police officers as the investigations continue with arrangements in place to ensure they are taken back to Kampala