Protecting potential human trafficking victims against the hidden interests of commercial labour exportation in Uganda

Abstract

The study analyzed the link between protecting potential human trafficking victims against the hidden interests of commercial labour exportation in Uganda. Specific objectives were; to identify dominant characteristics of potential human-trafficking victims, to examine the contributions of legal and institutional frameworks to addressing human trafficking and to explore the dynamics that enable human traffickers to achieve the hidden interests of commercial labour exportation in Uganda. A qualitative case study design was adopted and data was collected using observation, interviews and focus group discussions. Trans-national theory and the Victimology theory underpinned the study. Findings indicate that potential and victims of human trafficking are characterized by a life of anticipation for the best before engaged in human trafficking, misery and suffering during and after being trafficked, Uganda has several legal and institutional frameworks to addressing human trafficking however, their positive contributions live a lot still desired to save Ugandans from human trafficking. However, the human traffickers capitalize on the weakness in laws and poor economic and social status for people to lure Ugandans in human trafficking economic self-interests. The study concludes that social, economic and psychosocial characteristics formed the life of the potential human-trafficking victims as reflected before, during and after being trafficked. Legal and institutional frameworks to addressing human trafficking in Uganda have significantly aided Uganda's efforts to combat human trafficking, despite their application and interpretation been sluggish and human traffickers capitalize mostly on the economic mismatches in Uganda such as unemployment; desire to migrate to countries with more economic opportunities and poverty among the victims to achieve their hidden interests of commercial labour exportation. This study recommended that the Government of the Republic of Uganda, through its ministries, agencies and investors should lower the number of youths who are in dire need of work, so the Government must increase employment.