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KAMPALA: Uganda's High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has rescued three Ugandan sex slaves in Malaysia.
In a diplomatic note to the Foreign Affairs Ministry here, it said that the three girls were scheduled to return home on Thursday via an Ethiopian Airways flight.
The High Commission's first secretary Samantha Mbabazi Sherurah said the young women suffered physical and mental abuse.
"The three ladies have experienced the most inhuman forms of mental and physical torture. We request that they are contacted by a social worker for counselling," she said.
High Commissioner Stephen Mubiru told New Vision in an interview Tuesday that they were working with Malaysia's security agencies to track more victims of the abhorrent trade.
"A number of Ugandan ladies and men are victims of human trafficking in Malaysia, China and (other) Asian countries. We are working hard to ensure the remaining victims return home," Mubiru said.
Sources in Kuala Lumpur said the three girls reported that about 20 more Ugandan women sex slaves were hiding in Kuala Lumpur, fearing arrest by authorities or being hunted by their recruiters.
The New Vision was told of some others in jail for various crimes.
Mubiru appealed to any Ugandan victim of human trafficking and sex slavery in Malaysia to approach the mission for help.
The High Commission opened on Nov 26 last year, and the Consular Section in March.
Mubiru took office on March 18.
According to reports, many Ugandan girls were being trafficked to different countries under the guise of finding them employment, but they end up in sex slavery.
Moses Binoga, co-ordinator of the anti-human trafficking task force at the Internal Affairs Ministry here, said such cases were on the rise.
"I receive about five reports every week, mostly from the Middle East. But only half the victims are assisted to return home," he told New Vision.
He said the problem arises when Ugandans seek employment abroad through personal contacts, instead of using registered recruitment agencies.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Fred Opolot confirmed that cases of abuse of Ugandans in Malaysia were on the rise, and had been brought to the attention of the ministry.
"Apart from boosting government, business and student relations, establishment of the embassy in Malaysia was partly aimed at responding to an increase in such cases," Opolot said. - BERNAMA
