Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have detained Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, who was exposed in a BBC investigation as the head of a sex-trade ring that preyed on vulnerable women in Dubai’s upscale areas.
Mwesigwa, a former London bus driver, was secretly filmed by an undercover BBC reporter offering women for sex parties at a starting price of $1,000 (Sh129,200). He boasted that the women could do “pretty much everything” clients requested.
The exact charges he is facing remain unclear, as UAE authorities have not issued an official statement on the arrest.
However, a Dubai law firm confirmed to the BBC that he is being held at the Central Prison Centre in Al Awir.
The firm also indicated that Interpol Uganda had issued a red notice against him, requesting law enforcement worldwide to detain him for possible extradition.
The Ugandan embassy in Abu Dhabi recently acknowledged that “investigations of human trafficking are ongoing and action has been taken by the authorities of the UAE,” a statement understood to be linked to Mwesigwa’s arrest.
The BBC investigation detailed testimonies from young Ugandan women who travelled to Dubai believing they were securing legitimate jobs in supermarkets or hotels, only to be trapped in prostitution.
One of them, identified as “Mia” to protect her identity, recounted that at least one client of Mwesigwa frequently demanded degrading acts, including defecating on women. Prostitution is illegal in Dubai.
Mwesigwa has rejected the allegations, insisting he only connected women with landlords for housing and that his reputation as a party host drew women to him.
“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 said.
The investigation also highlighted the deaths of two women linked to his network, Monic Karungi and Kayla Birungi, who fell from high-rise buildings in Dubai.
Authorities ruled their deaths as suicides, but their families and friends believe police should have probed further.
Mwesigwa maintained that the incidents had been investigated by Dubai police and referred the BBC to them, though they did not respond to requests for comment.
The revelations prompted debate in Uganda’s parliament, where ministers described the findings as “disturbing” and pledged to collaborate with Interpol to ensure justice is pursued.