Police say further arrests are expected as detectives widen investigations into what they believe may be one of the most organised online exploitation rings uncovered in the Kampala metropolitan area in recent years.
A major police operation in Kira Municipality has uncovered what investigators describe as a sophisticated online sexual exploitation network that allegedly recruited vulnerable young women and broadcast explicit content to paying subscribers overseas.
The operation, carried out by officers from the Directorate of Crime Intelligence (DCI) and other security agencies, targeted a residence in Mbalwa-Buyinja Zone, Kyaliwajjala-Namugongo, following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
During the raid, police arrested and rescued more than 27 people, most of them young women aged between 17 and 26. Investigators recovered laptops, cameras, studio lighting equipment, hard drives, flash disks, smartphones, microphones and other digital devices believed to have been used in the production and transmission of online sexual content.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala, the suspects are being investigated over allegations of human trafficking and promotion of pornography.
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“We are investigating a case of human trafficking and pornography promotion involving a group that was operating from an enclosed residence and engaging in illegal online commercial sexual activities,” Kawala said.
Police say the operation exposed a wider network extending beyond the Kira residence. Preliminary investigations indicate that recruiters targeted financially vulnerable young women, including students, bar attendants and job seekers, luring them with promises of employment, wealth, social media fame and opportunities abroad.
Authorities allege that social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram were used to identify and recruit potential victims.
Investigators are also searching for two key suspects, including former music promoter Ronnie Mulindwa and his associate Martin Male, who are believed to have fled before the operation. Detectives suspect the pair played central roles in coordinating the recruitment and management of the network.
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Police believe the operation stretched across several districts, including Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Mbale, Bukomansimbi and Lyantonde.
Evidence gathered so far suggests that the group operated a structured profit-sharing system in which recruiters received commissions for bringing in new recruits, while managers allegedly took a substantial share of earnings generated through online livestreams.
Several of the women interviewed by investigators reportedly disclosed that members were required to adopt aliases to conceal their identities from relatives and authorities. Some admitted joining voluntarily after being attracted by the prospect of earning money and maintaining a luxurious lifestyle, while others claimed they had been recruited through deceptive promises.
Police say subscribers, mainly based outside East Africa, paid significant sums to access livestreamed content. Investigators are now analysing electronic devices recovered during the raid to establish the full scope of the operation and identify additional suspects.
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The operation has also raised concerns among local leaders, who say similar cases have recently been uncovered in other parts of Kira and Namugongo. Authorities fear that comparable networks may still be operating from private residences, rental apartments and entertainment venues under the guise of talent development, social media influencing and other legitimate activities.
As investigations continue, police are urging the public, particularly parents and guardians, to remain vigilant about online recruitment schemes targeting young people.
The case comes against a backdrop of growing concern over sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Uganda’s Anti-Pornography Act criminalises the production, promotion and distribution of pornographic material, with offenders facing substantial prison sentences upon conviction.
Police say further arrests are expected as detectives widen investigations into what they believe may be one of the most organised online exploitation rings uncovered in the Kampala metropolitan area in recent years.