Latest modern slavery fight updates - FreedomUnited.org

Ugandan parliament to consider bill to stop organ trafficking

  • Published on
    July 13, 2022
  • Category:
    Human Trafficking
Hero Banner

The Uganda parliament will consider a bill regulating the harvesting and trade of human organs and tissues as authorities attempt to address organ trafficking concerns.

Reuters’ reports on the situation regarding the trade in organs and tissues from unwitting donors has attracted public interest in Uganda. In addition, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) reported on the link between human trafficking networks in the Gulf and organ trafficking.

What will this legislation do?

The Parliament’s Health Committee is studying a bill that establishes a legal framework for organ donation and transplantation, hitherto unregulated in the country. In addition, the bill defines life sentences for those guilty of selling human organs and for those involved in performing organ harvesting surgery. Moreover, anyone who offers to supply an organ in exchange for a financial reward will face up to 20 years in prison or a maximum penalty of $54,000.

At a press conference, Uganda’s Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, stated:

“The bill seeks to regulate organ, cell and tissue donation as well as regulate transplantation in this country. It seeks to address the problems of the illicit trade that is talked about from time to time.”

Human trafficking networks in the Gulf

According to local media, Ugandan women recruited for domestic work in the Middle East – estimated at around 100,000 Ugandans in Gulf countries – are sometimes tricked into undergoing medical procedures in which their kidneys are removed against their will. Some hospitals, including public hospitals, have also been implicated in trafficking.

Trafficking networks include alleged companies that lure workers out of Uganda and subsequently subject them to organ removal surgery.  Milly Namazzi, who had been working in Saudi Arabia since 2019, was flown to Egypt after the expiration of her contract in 2021, where she was reported dead. Examination of her remains, which were sent to Uganda, revealed that her kidneys and genital organs had been removed. Judith Nakintu, who also worked in Saudi Arabia, fared somewhat better.

She told various media outlets:

“My employer took me to the hospital to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Then I fell unconscious in the hospital bed. When I woke up the next morning, I had a wound under my abdomen. I tried to ask how I got it and no one would tell me. Everyone ignored my cries to find out what had happened,” she told the media after returning home.

Forced organ harvesting and organ trafficking are appalling crimes taking place around the world. The Freedom United community believes every government has the responsibility to take action to combat these horrific human rights abuses. Sign the petition now here. 

Subscribe

Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.

stop icon A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

This week

India’s shrimp industry contaminated by forced labor, hazardous conditions, new investigations reveal

The insatiable demand for shrimp in Western countries has led to the rapid expansion of hatcheries and processing plants across traditional farming communities in India. However, according to recent investigations by Corporate Accountability Lab (CAL), the Associated Press and Outlaw Ocean, not only are the new hatcheries and processing plants contaminating the water and soil making it almost impossible to staple grow crops like rice, they also hide

| Wednesday March 20, 2024

Read more