Day 4: Strengthening Evidence Management and Victim Centered Investigations

Highlights from Day 4 of UNAFRI's Capacity-Building Training on Human Trafficking for the Uganda Police Force, including the field visit to Entebbe.

Day 4 of UNAFRI's Capacity-Building Training on Human Trafficking for the Uganda Police Force focused on evidence management, human rights and victim-centered investigations, trafficking for sexual exploitation and intelligence-led detection at border points.

The day's sessions were facilitated by ACP Odong Mark, who delivered the evidence-management session on behalf of SCP Beata Chelimo, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations; Asiimwe Anthony, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society; and Samali Wakooli of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

ACP Odong Mark facilitates the Day 4 session on evidence management, crime scene investigation and the management of exhibits

Preserving evidence from crime scene to court

ACP Odong Mark delivered a session on evidence management, crime scene investigation and the management of exhibits on behalf of SCP Beata Chelimo. He emphasized that investigations were won through evidence rather than confessions. A confession, however detailed, needed to be supported by independent evidence before it could sustain a conviction.

Participants examined crime scene preservation, the continuity and chain of custody of exhibits and the proper documentation of evidence from collection to presentation in court. The session also considered the growing importance of digital and financial evidence in trafficking investigations, particularly where communications and transactions link several members of a criminal network.

Asiimwe Anthony, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, facilitates a session on human rights and victim-centred trafficking investigations. 

Applying a human rights and victim centred approach

Asiimwe Anthony, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, facilitated a session on the investigation of trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. He emphasized that these investigations required more than collecting statements; they required a human rights and victim-centered approach.

Investigators are often among the first justice actors to engage with victims. Their decisions can therefore affect a victim's safety, willingness to participate in proceedings and access to justice. Participants considered how interviews, evidence collection and referrals could be conducted without exposing victims to further harm or re-victimisation.

The discussion linked respect for human rights with the quality of an investigation. Protecting dignity and confidentiality can help investigators obtain reliable information while maintaining the trust needed for continued cooperation throughout a case.

Samali Wakooli of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions facilitates a session on trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Investigating trafficking for sexual exploitation

Samali Wakooli of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions facilitated a session on trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation. She described sexual exploitation as one of the most prevalent forms of human trafficking and a grave violation of human rights.

The session examined the evidential and protection challenges that can arise when investigating sexual exploitation. Participants considered the need to corroborate victim accounts, preserve relevant physical and digital evidence and avoid investigative practices that could subject victims to further trauma.

A victim-centred approach did not reduce the need for strong evidence. It required investigators to build cases carefully while respecting survivors' rights, safety and dignity throughout the criminal justice process.

A frontline officer conducts a practical session on intelligence-led detection and the identification of human trafficking risks at Entebbe International Airport.

Applying intelligence led detection at Entebbe Airport

The classroom sessions were complemented by a field visit to Entebbe International Airport. Participants examined how frontline officers could use intelligence and travel information to identify trafficking risks at a major point of entry and exit.

The field component drew attention to travel patterns, passenger movements and other indicators that may warrant further inquiry. It also demonstrated why cooperation among investigators, immigration authorities, airport personnel and other agencies is essential when trafficking activity crosses borders.

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Learning together beyond the classroom: Day 4 also gave participants and the UNAFRI team time to learn from one another outside the formal classroom setting. These experiences added a human dimension to an intensive week of technical learning and strengthened the professional relationships that support cooperation after the training ends.

Building cases that protect victims and withstand scrutiny

The Day 4 sessions connected evidence management, human rights, victim protection and intelligence-led detection. Participants considered how careful preservation and corroboration of evidence could support prosecutions while reducing the risk of further harm to victims.

Through the classroom and field components, officers strengthened their understanding of how to build reliable trafficking cases, recognize risks at border points and keep victims' dignity and safety at the centre of investigative decisions.