Ex London Bus Driver Accused of Running Dubai Sex Traffic ring

Former London Bus Driver Accused of Running Dubai Sex Traffic Ring

BBC World Service investigation has uncovered allegations that a former London bus driver, identified as Mr. Mwesigwa, is running a sex trafficking operation in Dubai. The probe reveals that Ugandan women, lured with promises of jobs in supermarkets and hotels, were instead coerced into sex work and forced to perform degrading acts at parties for wealthy clients, sometimes paying as much as $1,000 (£740) per encounter.

Social media rumors about “Dubai sex parties” have long circulated, amplified by the viral hashtag #DubaiPortaPotty, viewed more than 450 million times on TikTok. But the BBC investigation suggests the reality is darker and more organized than the online parodies suggest.

Victims interviewed said they arrived in Dubai only to be told they owed large sums for travel, visas, housing, and food. One woman, “Mia” (not her real name), said her supposed debt doubled to over £4,000 within weeks, forcing her into sex work to repay it. She also described violent threats when she resisted.

At least two women linked to Mwesigwa’s network have died after falling from high-rise apartments. Authorities ruled the deaths suicides, but relatives dispute this, pointing to the women’s desperate pleas for help before they died. One of the victims, Monic Karungi, believed she was going to work in a supermarket. Instead, she reportedly ended up in an overcrowded flat with dozens of other women under Mwesigwa’s control, owing him more than $27,000 at the time of her death.

Mwesigwa denies the allegations, saying he merely helped women find accommodation and introduced them to his wealthy acquaintances. Dubai police did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

Key Takeaways

• Former London bus driver accused of running a trafficking ring in Dubai.

• Ugandan women claim they were deceived with fake job offers and coerced into sex work.

• Two women associated with the network died in suspicious circumstances.

Source: BBC World Service