Tejas Patel released on bail in trafficking case

What the report says

Kampala businessman and insurance broker Tejas Patel has been released on bail by the Makindye Magistrate’s Court in a case involving 15 counts of alleged aggravated human trafficking. According to The Independent Uganda, the court on October 16 set cash bail at Shs7 million and a non-cash bond of Shs100 million for each surety. Patel is also barred from leaving Uganda, and his passport has been held by the state while the case continues.

The charges are part of a broader investigation into alleged trafficking and sexual exploitation. The publication reported that prosecutors amended the charge sheet to include Patel and co-accused Yogesh Yadav, along with other suspects who remain at large. The alleged offences are said to have taken place in Muyenga, in Kampala’s Makindye Division, between February and September 2026. Prosecutors allege the group recruited, transported, harboured or received 15 people, using deception or payments tied to prostitution or sexual exploitation. The allegations have not been tested in court.

Patel had previously been remanded in custody before being granted bail. Yadav had earlier also been released on bail. The case has drawn attention from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which has said it is following the matter closely. A ministry labour attaché urged jobseekers to use lawful recruitment channels and stressed the need for accountability. Patel is due back in court on November 9, 2026, as the proceedings continue.