In brief
Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa, identified as the leader of a sex-trade ring exploiting vulnerable women in Dubai, has been arrested following a BBC investigative report. The investigation reveals how unsuspecting women from Uganda were lured to Dubai under false pretenses and forced into prostitution. Despite Mwesigwa denying the allegations, increasing scrutiny from authorities suggests a deeper awareness of the human trafficking crisis in the region.
The BBC understands the boss of a degrading sex-trade ring that exploited vulnerable women in Dubai's most glamorous neighbourhoods has been detained in the United Arab Emirates.
Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa, who was identified in a recent BBC investigation as running the network, was filmed telling an undercover reporter he could provide women for a sex party at a starting price of $1,000 (£750).
He also said the women could do 'pretty much everything' clients wanted them to and claimed to be a former London bus driver.
It is not clear what charges - if any - Mwesigwa is facing in the UAE and the country's authorities have not yet made a public announcement about the case.
However, a Dubai law firm contacted by the BBC confirmed that Mwesigwa was in custody at the Central Prison Centre in Al Awir, Dubai. They stated that a red notice had been issued against Mwesigwa by Interpol Uganda.
A red notice is a request to police worldwide to detain someone pending extradition.
The Ugandan embassy in the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi announced that 'investigations of human trafficking are ongoing and action has been taken by the authorities of the UAE'. This statement is connected to Mwesigwa's detention.
The BBC World Service investigation featured testimonies from young Ugandan women, who reported traveling to Dubai with promises of jobs, only to find themselves indebted and forced into prostitution. In some instances, the women believed they were going to work in supermarkets or hotels, as prostitution is illegal in Dubai.
At least one of Mwesigwa's clients reportedly demanded the women engage in extreme degradation during encounters, and up to three women linked to his network died after falling from high-rise apartments.
Numerous discussions about the investigation occurred in the Ugandan parliament, with ministers expressing concern and pledging to collaborate with Interpol to ensure justice is served.
