Commissioner of Police (CP), Twinomujuni Julius, who is the Coordinator for the Prevention in Trafficking in Persons (COPTIP) in Uganda Police, called upon students to heed the advice of their elders in order to combat human trafficking.
This call was made on Thursday, November 16, 2023, in the Greater Masaka Region, where he addressed students and pupils who are potential targets during the upcoming long holiday, which starts in December 2023.
CP Twinomujuni warned that the real threat of human trafficking falls under the guise of scholarships and jobs and urged students to share such opportunities with guardians, emphasising the potential risks involved.
“The real threat of human trafficking falls under the guise of scholarships and jobs. You should first share such opportunities with your guardians, teachers, and the police for verification before getting
involved,” he said.
CP Twinomujuni asserted that even close relatives and friends can be perpetrators; hence, he cautioned the students against accepting favours like food, drinks, and lifts from strangers, as some substances may be used to intoxicate the targeted student or pupil who ends up being trafficked.
He passed on this message to 1271 pupils at Kyotera Primary School, 550 students at Kyotera Central Muslim Secondary School, 416 pupils at MK Primary School, and 517 students at St. Joseph’s Technical School Kiteredde, all in Kyotera District.
The commissioner further emphasised the need for collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to promptly report incidents and consult relevant authorities in case of any incident.
