Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-30 19:54:15
After three months of painstaking negotiations, Ambassador Betty Bigombe confirmed that twenty-three out of over 30 Ugandans held captive in Myanmar have been released. The victims were freed yesterday morning by rebel groups fighting against Myanmar’s military rulers, following Ambassador Bigombe’s efforts in Kuala Lumpur.
The uprising in Myanmar began after the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021, leading to the formation of the Three Brotherhood Alliance. The victims were initially lured to Myanmar with promises of lucrative job offers but ended up being victims of human trafficking, living in inhumane conditions in rebel-controlled Karen state.
Contrary to initial reports that the Ugandans were forced to fight alongside rebels, Ambassador Bigombe clarified that they were kept in compounds and exploited for online scams. The freed individuals shared stories of being forced to work long hours without proper compensation and facing brutal treatment from their captors.
While 23 Ugandans were released, one individual, Yusuf Lukyamuzi, was not freed for undisclosed reasons, causing concern among diplomats at the Ugandan mission in Kuala Lumpur. The embassy, facing budget constraints as a Category B embassy, is working to assist the freed individuals with accommodation, food, and necessary documents for their return home.
Reports suggest that Ugandan nationals are not the only targets of criminal cartels in Asia, with other vulnerable populations falling victim to similar schemes. The syndicated crypto-currency fraud schemes operating in Myanmar have been reported to scam billions of dollars from victims worldwide.
Ambassador Bigombe revealed that negotiations with the criminal cartels behind the operations in Myanmar involved networking and a bit of risk-taking, leveraging her past experience in peace talks during the conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army. Despite the successful release of 23 individuals, efforts continue to secure the freedom of the remaining captives.
The Ugandan government has raised concerns with Thai authorities for facilitating the trafficking of individuals through tourism visas, enabling the exploitation of young men and women from impoverished backgrounds. The ordeal of the trapped Ugandans highlights the harsh reality of modern slavery and the need for global efforts to combat it.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja had tasked Ambassador Bigombe with leading the efforts to secure the release of the trapped Ugandans, including engaging with international agencies like the International Organization for Migration (IOM). As the world grapples with the issue of modern slavery, Ambassador Bigombe’s message emphasizes the importance of concerted efforts to address this global phenomenon.
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