Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions, has urged all stakeholders in the Justice Law and Order Sector, as well as the community, to join forces in the fight against human trafficking.
She made this request at the launch of Uganda’s ground-breaking Trafficking in Persons Mobile App Platform (TIPMAP) on July 28, 2023, at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel. TIPMAP is the first Live Data Visualisation Dashboard for Human Trafficking Cases in the nation.
This initiative aims to facilitate the collection and sharing of data pertaining to human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
In her speech, Abodo stressed the importance of the ODPP-TIPMAP website, which is anticipated to play a key role in providing the general public and other anti-trafficking organisations with crucial information.
She anticipates that by providing this platform, it would significantly aid in the efforts to stop and protect both Ugandans and non-Ugandans from being victims of trafficking.
“I prayed that this platform would contribute significantly to the ongoing activities aimed at preventing and safeguarding both Ugandans and non-Ugandans from falling victim to trafficking,” said Abodo.
Abodo also reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to implementing record-keeping procedures and fostering infrastructure for information exchange in order to combat trafficking offenses.
According to Julia Zabbu, the Programmes Coordinator at the Human Trafficking Institute, the website will provide comprehensive data analysis of different human trafficking cases, both at the national and international levels.
“The data will be frequently updated, offering an accurate overview of cases that have undergone the criminal justice system,” said Zabbu.
Zabbu said that the platform will encourage individuals to report cases, ultimately leading to the apprehension of perpetrators and the protection of victims, which is the primary goal of this initiative.
Superintendent of Police Kemigisa Nusura, the Trafficking in Person Liaison Officer for ODPP and the Police Criminal Investigation Directorate, emphasised that the tool would be instrumental in analysing data trends and devising effective intervention strategies to combat human trafficking.
Around 75% of the cases reported are domestic, warranting a more radical approach in the fight against this heinous crime.
The Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) is dedicated to eradicating human trafficking at its roots by empowering law enforcement and prosecutors to apprehend traffickers. Through their expertise in investigative resources, training, and evidence-based research, HTI plays a pivotal role in freeing trafficking victims.
In 2021, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) joined forces with the Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) and Liberty to develop the Trafficking in Persons Mobile App Platform (TIPMAP) in Uganda.
