Dubai's Sex-Trade Ring Boss Arrested After BBC Investigation

Mon Oct 20 2025 22:13:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa, the alleged leader of a Dubai-based sex-trade ring, has been arrested following a shocking BBC investigative report revealing the exploitation of vulnerable women.

Following a critical investigation by the BBC, Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa, the suspect behind a degrading sex-trade ring in Dubai, has been taken into custody. Mwesigwa was identified as running a network that exploited vulnerable Ugandan women promised jobs but instead forced into prostitution. With a starting price of $1,000, he reportedly boasted about the services his network could provide. His arrest follows a statement from the Ugandan embassy confirming ongoing human trafficking investigations. Many victims, misled about job offers, have found themselves in dire situations.

Warning: Contains disturbing content and graphic descriptions of sexual acts

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).

It is not clear what charges - if any - Mwesigwa is facing in the UAE. However, a Dubai law firm confirmed he was in custody at the Central Prison Centre in Al Awir, Dubai, and a red notice was issued against him by Interpol Uganda.

The Ugandan embassy in the UAE stated that investigations of human trafficking are ongoing.

The BBC's investigation found testimonies from Ugandan women who traveled to Dubai under false pretenses of job opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in prostitution. Many were misled about the nature of work, believing they would be employed in supermarkets or hotels.

Despite denying the allegations, Mwesigwa claimed to merely be a party organizer and pointed to his connections with wealthy Dubai social circles.

The investigation also highlighted tragic incidents involving women associated with Mwesigwa, with reports of two women dying after falls from high-rise apartments, raising further questions about the conditions they encountered.

As discussions continue in the Ugandan parliament regarding the disturbing nature of this case, efforts are ongoing to ensure justice is served.