Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Gen. Tumukunde, and key stakeholders have called for stronger coordination and collective action to combat trafficking in persons in Uganda during a national dialogue organised by JPIIJPC.

Kampala, Uganda – 24 July 2026: The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Gen. Tumukunde, has called for stronger coordination among Government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to combat trafficking in persons in Uganda.

He made the call while speaking at the National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Combating Trafficking in Persons, organized by John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC) and held on 24 July 2026 at the Centre’s Main Hall in Kampala.

The national dialogue brought together key stakeholders involved in the prevention and response to trafficking in persons, including representatives from Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Uganda Police Force, Uganda Episcopal Conference, Ministry of Internal Affairs (COPTIP), Kampala Archdiocese, Government ministries and agencies, civil society organisations and development partners, among others.

Hon. Gen. Tumukunde emphasized that combating trafficking in persons requires a coordinated and sustained response involving all relevant actors. He called for stronger collaboration and information sharing among institutions to strengthen prevention, protect vulnerable communities and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Hon. Simon Mulongo, Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to promoting safe labour migration and strengthening measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons. He stressed the importance of protecting people seeking employment from exploitation, particularly those who may be vulnerable during labour migration.

The dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, discuss emerging challenges and identify practical measures for strengthening Uganda’s response to trafficking in persons. Discussions focused on strengthening prevention, victim and survivor protection, referral mechanisms, investigation and prosecution, as well as improving coordination among stakeholders.

Participants also underscored the importance of increased public awareness and community engagement, particularly in addressing the vulnerabilities that expose women, children, youth and other at-risk groups to trafficking and exploitation.

The engagement reaffirmed the shared responsibility of Government, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders in tackling trafficking in persons. Through the dialogue, JPIIJPC continues to contribute to national efforts aimed at promoting human rights, protecting vulnerable communities and advancing justice and social protection in Uganda.