Claims that Dubai Sex trafficking boss exposed by the BBC is an NUP supporter are false

Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, the boss of an organised sex trafficking syndicate in Dubai exposed by BBC Africa Eye

When the BBC released its documentary "Death in Dubai" earlier this month, it exposed a dark underworld where Ugandan women, lured by promises of good jobs in the United Arab Emirates, especially Dubai, ended up trapped in sexual exploitation.

At the centre of the investigation was Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, named as the alleged ringleader of one of the sex trafficking networks. Hidden cameras, survivor testimonies and interviews with insiders painted a chilling picture of an organised trade in human lives.

The revelations provoked outrage across Uganda, reigniting calls for the government to crack down on traffickers and provide stronger protections for women seeking work abroad. For many, the exposé underscored the vulnerability of Ugandans desperate for opportunities beyond the country’s borders.

The AI-generated image claiming that Mwesigwa was an NUP supporter in 2023

But even as the public demanded justice, an unrelated narrative has begun spreading online. A TikTok user "Gusty" circulated posts claiming that Mwesigwa was a supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and that he was at the opposition party headquarters in 2023.

A closer look, however, shows the claims are baseless. We analysed the image and found it to have multiple markers of being AI generated.

The AI-generated image of Mwesigwa standing in an office claimed to be that of the NUP headquarters in Kavule

The photo is of Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert in the background of the image is not his real likeness. The name Sentamu on the portrait is spelt wrong, a telltale sign of AI-generated images; they often miss out on key details.

We also noticed that the words below the poster are not readable; they are a bunch of jumbled letters. The last word was an attempt at writing the word "PEOPLE", but instead the AI wrote "PEPOBLE"

The Uganda flag in the office is also wrong; a normal Ugandan flag has the stripes in the order, "black-yellow-red, black-yellow-red" with the crested crane emblem in the middle of the red and black middle stripes. In this case, the flag has "black-yellow-black" stripes with the crested crane in the second black stripe.

Neither the BBC investigation nor any credible news outlet has linked Mwesigwa to politics of any kind. His profile has surfaced solely in connection with trafficking allegations.

Experts warn that politicising the case risks shifting focus away from the urgent human rights crisis highlighted in the BBC’s reporting. Uganda has long struggled with the trafficking of women to the Middle East, where many face abuse and exploitation.

For survivors, the fight is not about politics but about justice and protection. And for now, Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa remains known only as the man at the centre of one of the country’s most disturbing trafficking scandals without any verified political links.