KEY PLAYERS IN UGANDA’S SCORE AS REGIONAL HUB FOR ORGANIZED CRIME

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

Among the many negative legacies of the Museveni regime’s 38-year hold on power, the April 2024 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) classifies Uganda as a significant hub for organized and international crime. The report highlights a wide range of criminal activities prevalent in Uganda that pose serious security and humanitarian risks.

Uganda is described as a hotbed for various illicit activities, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, arms trafficking, terrorism, and the smuggling of counterfeit goods. Additionally, the report mentions illegal deforestation and extensive charcoal production, both of which have broader implications for regional security and stability.

As expected, the regime quickly dismissed the report, labeling it an unfounded fabrication by “western imperialists.” However, it is a fact that Museveni’s security apparatus plays a central role in all forms of organized crime in Uganda. Under his militarization agenda, the security sector has taken control of key government functions.

Security personnel oversee the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which handles immigration services and border control. They manage economic activities, including customs, revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, fisheries management, investor protection, and wealth creation. With the army chief now handling the regime’s foreign policy, the security sector also controls Uganda’s international relations.

It is, therefore, the security personnel who facilitate the smuggling of counterfeit goods, illicit drugs, human trafficking, military training, and arms trafficking to various armed groups in the region. They aid in the entry, transit, and exit of international actors involved in organized crime, effectively positioning Uganda as a safe haven for these activities. Despite frequent politically motivated terror alerts, statistics show a sharp rise in foreign tourist numbers, and the aviation authority reports increasing air traffic. The key players in this criminal network are the security personnel, who are guaranteed immunity in exchange for their unwavering loyalty.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM