A man running a sex ring operating out of Dubai's most glamorous neighbourhoods, and exploiting vulnerable women, has been identified by a BBC investigation.
Charles Mwesigwa, who claims to be a former London bus driver, spoke to an undercover reporter, offering women for sex parties starting at $1,000 (£740) a night. He boasted that his women could cater to pretty much everything clients desired.
For years, rumors of extravagant sex parties in the UAE have circulated alongside the hashtag #Dubaiportapotty, viewed over 450 million times on TikTok. While commonly believed to be parodic, the reality is more harrowing.
Many young Ugandan women were misled into believing they were traveling to the UAE for legitimate employment in supermarkets or hotels, only to find themselves caught in Mr. Mwesigwa's exploitative network. One woman disclosed that a client regularly engaged in degrading behaviors, including requesting defecation on them.
He denies all allegations, claiming to merely help women find accommodation and facilitating parties with his wealthy contacts.
Tragically, recent revelations connect dead women, who reportedly fell from Dubai's high-rises, to his operations, leading to questions about insufficient police investigations into their deaths. One woman, Monic Karungi, had sought to escape Mr. Mwesigwa's grasp shortly before her demise.
The BBC's investigation involved a thorough process of open-source intelligence, undercover research, and testimonies from former associates of Mr. Mwesigwa, allowing them to track him to a middle-class neighborhood in Dubai.
Many clients served in Mwesigwa's operation were described as white Europeans, some with extreme fetishes. Victims recounted instances of being coerced into degrading scenarios, often expressing despair when seeking help from authorities.
The fateful journey of Monic highlights the grim realities faced by many Ugandan women, who leave their homes seeking better opportunities, only to fall victim to exploitation in foreign lands. Activists have reported assisting over 700 individuals trapped in similar situations across the Gulf.
This investigation highlights the urgent need for action to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable women as they navigate their way to better lives.
