Police in Kigezi region have in custody a conductor of Baby Coach for allegedly trafficking child refugees from Nakivale Refugee settlement into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for suspected rebel activities.

The conductor identified as Farida Nabakosa, a 37-year-old, resident of Bulenga was arrested for trafficking child refugees from Nakivale into the DRC to join a rebel group termed as “Turwane ko” meaning let’s fight for our self.

SCP Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson while addressing the presser during a weekly security brief at Naguru Police Headquarters on November 13, 2023, said that, on November 6, 2023, at around 8am, the parents handed over to the suspect five children and who claimed that she knew where to drop them for Aid.

According to Enanga, since the suspect knew where to drop the children, she could be a collaborator in one way and has probably been trafficking children in that manner.

“Two victims including Christian Mubula, a 17-year-old refugee and one of the pupils from Nakivale Primary School in Nakivale Valley refugee camp escaped and were reunited with their mothers,” Enanga said.

He said that, police are now trying to recover three children who could have crossed into the DRC illegally. He identified those still missing as Prince, aged 15, Tezero and Sabi Kozeba.

The police have preferred murder charges against the suspect who is currently in custody at Kigezi Police Station, and strongly condemned any acts of recruitment of children and even adults into the rebel acts of the ADF and other hostile forces.

In 2022, the government reported that, 1,200 incidents of human trafficking were being investigated, a significant increase compared to 421 incidents in 2021.  Of the 1,200 reported, at least 526 involved exploitation in Uganda, and at least 63 involved exploitation abroad.