UNAFRI Launched Human Trafficking Response Training for Uganda Police Force
- unafriug
- Aug 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 16
The United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI), in partnership with the Uganda Police Force (UPF), launched a five day capacity building training on human trafficking at the UNAFRI Secretariat in Kampala.
Held from 3rd to 7th August 2026, the training brought together approximately 100 police officers drawn from different regions of Uganda, including officers serving at border entry and exit points. It was designed to strengthen the operational capacity of personnel assigned to the Uganda Police Force’s Human Trafficking Department.
The training was officially opened by Hon. John Mulimba, Chairperson of the UNAFRI Governing Board. In his address, he explained that the program was intended to form the nucleus of a specialized Uganda Police Force unit capable of combating modern forms of human trafficking. Highlighting the growing use of phones, social media and fraudulent job advertisements by traffickers, he urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to rescue victims, prevent exploitation and bring perpetrators to justice. He also emphasized regional cooperation, noting that no single agency or country could defeat human trafficking alone.
The opening day began with remarks from invited guests and institutional leaders. SCP Beata Chelimo, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations, briefly addressed the participants, while ACP Moses Taremwa provided an introductory briefing on the training and its importance to Uganda’s response to trafficking in persons.
The training also welcomed SP William Ayaregah, Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, CID, Ghana Police Service, who participated as a representative of the Republic of Ghana, a UNAFRI Member State. His participation brought a valuable regional perspective and enabled the exchange of experiences between Ghana and Uganda in responding to trafficking in persons.
The day’s technical sessions were facilitated by representatives and specialists from the Justice, Law and Order Sector, the Uganda Police Force, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, UNAFRI and the Platform for Social Justice.
A representative of the Justice, Law and Order Sector discussed the position of the Uganda Police Force within the sector. ACP Doka Ramathan presented the mandate, vision, mission and core values of the Uganda Police Force, while SSP Dr Arop Bosco introduced participants to trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, including their definitions, forms and patterns.
Marion Bella of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Mr. Munanura Andrew Karokora, Acting Director General of UNAFRI, guided participants through the national, regional and international legal and policy frameworks governing trafficking in persons.
The day concluded with a session on the identification and management of trafficking victims, facilitated by Ms Juliet Nakyanzi, Chief Executive Officer of the Platform for Social Justice, together with ACP Moses Taremwa. The session addressed the identification of victims and perpetrators, access to psychosocial and medical support, and the protection of victims and witnesses.
Strengthening criminal justice capacity
Through this training, UNAFRI is supporting the Uganda Police Force to strengthen the knowledge, skills and coordination required to identify trafficking cases, protect victims and witnesses, conduct effective investigations and dismantle trafficking networks.
The training is fully funded by UNAFRI and forms part of the Institute’s mandate to support African Member States through criminal justice training, cooperation, knowledge exchange and responses to emerging forms of crime.
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