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A National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) registration assistant has been remanded to prison over allegations of illegally disclosing citizens’ personal data to facilitate a suspected human trafficking network targeting young Ugandan women for exploitation in Dubai.
Douglas Kaaya, also known as Kasozi, 40, a resident of Buziga in Makindye Division, appeared before grade one magistrate Asuman Muhumuza at the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife court in Makindye following investigations by police.
Kaaya faces two counts of unlawful disclosure and processing of personal data contrary to the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap. 97. Prosecution alleges that while serving as a registration assistant at NIRA, he unlawfully accessed and processed National Identification card information before sharing it with individuals linked to a human trafficking syndicate.
The case stems from a recent BBC documentary that exposed the ordeal of Ugandan women allegedly lured to Dubai with promises of employment, only to end up trapped in prostitution and exploitative labour conditions.
The documentary reportedly triggered investigations into possible collaborators within government institutions suspected of aiding traffickers by facilitating the movement of victims out of the country.
Investigators believe Kaaya, together with other suspects still at large, exploited their positions within NIRA to fast-track the processing and verification of identification documents required for overseas travel.
Court documents indicate that the alleged offences were committed on December 4, 2024, at NIRA offices in Makindye. The investigations are being led by detective assistant superintendent of police Stella Chepcumba.
During his court appearance, Kaaya denied the charges. Although Magistrate Muhumuza informed him of his right to apply for bail, the application did not proceed after court found the submitted documents incomplete.
The magistrate noted that Kaaya had failed to provide his personal National ID and an introductory letter from his LC I chairperson, both mandatory requirements for bail consideration.
Kaaya was consequently remanded until May 18, 2026, when court is expected to hear a renewed bail application and commence the substantive hearing of the case.
Prosecution argues that the accused’s actions constituted a serious breach of Uganda’s data protection laws, enacted to safeguard citizens’ personal information from misuse and unauthorised disclosure.
If convicted, Kaaya faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of 245 currency points, or both. The case has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of Ugandan migrant workers, particularly women recruited for jobs in the Middle East.
For years, authorities and human rights organisations have warned about trafficking syndicates operating through recruitment agencies and informal networks that exploit weak oversight in labour migration and documentation processes.
Related
, https://observer.ug/news/bbc-documentary-nira-official-remanded-over-alleged-data-leak-to-dubai-trafficking-ring/
