U.S. Department of State 2002 Trafficking in Persons Report - Uganda
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Author | Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons |
| Publication Date | 5 June 2002 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State 2002 Trafficking in Persons Report - Uganda, 5 June 2002, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4680d7b023.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Uganda (Tier 2)
Uganda is a source country for trafficked persons, primarily women and children. Over the past fifteen years, a terrorist organization, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has abducted tens of thousands of women and children and forced them to carry stolen goods, to cook, to serve as sex slaves, and to become rebel soldiers.
The Government of Uganda does not yet fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so, despite limited resources, a civil conflict, and continued kidnapping raids by rebels based in southern Sudan.
The Ugandan Penal Code prohibits the import, export, purchase, sale, receipt or detention of persons as slaves but does not cover other severe forms of trafficking. The government does not actively investigate or prosecute cases of trafficking. When captured through security enforcement or military action, LRA rebels normally are prosecuted for other crimes, such as treason and sedition. Regarding protection of victims, the government of Uganda instituted a military incursion in March 2002 against the LRA in southern Sudan, in part to rescue children and others abducted by the LRA. The government, while financially unable to provide assistance, works closely with donors and NGOs, which provide counseling services, reintegration programs and other assistance for returning victims. The government has not launched any anti-trafficking campaigns or other prevention programs geared specifically to trafficking. However, the government does support universal primary education and programs to bolster women's participation in economic decision-making as broader preventative measures against trafficking.
