Twinomujuni Calls for Tighter Digital Controls to Combat Human Trafficking

What the report says

Commissioner of Police Julius Twinomujuni, who serves as National Coordinator of Uganda’s Coordination Office for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (COPTIP), has urged tighter government oversight of digital platforms and other systems he says traffickers are exploiting. Speaking at the National Day of Prayer and Awareness of Human Trafficking at Sharing Youth Centre in Nsambya, he said stronger controls are needed over online communication, foreign SIM cards and accommodation records, along with better coordination between agencies.

According to Nile Post, Twinomujuni said traffickers are increasingly using smartphones, online networks and weak monitoring systems to recruit and move victims. He pointed to concerns about international SIM cards being used to avoid detection and suggested that foreign SIM cards entering Uganda should be registered before activation. He also questioned how well hotel guest registration rules are being enforced, saying gaps in those systems can make it harder for security agencies to trace suspicious activity.

He added that proposals to regulate cryptocurrency are being developed and expected to reach lawmakers soon. In broader remarks, he warned Ugandans against irregular labour migration arrangements and said people who travel without safeguards risk exploitation. He also urged communities to treat trafficking as a shared concern, noting that cases are often ignored until a family is directly affected. The theme of the event was: “Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking.”