I just watched the BBC Africa Eye documentary Death in Dubai: #DUBAIPORTAPOTTY, and it exposed a shocking, cruel scheme targeting Ugandan women. Here’s what you need to know:
What is the “Porta‑Potty” Scam?
The term “porta potty” here is twisted: it refers to degrading sexual acts where a man defecates or urinates on a woman, then forces the woman to eat his waste.
The documentary reveals a Ugandan man, Charles Mwesigwa (aka Abbey), at the center of this sex trafficking ring.
Survivors reported extreme abuse:
• One survivor, Mia, said a client once defecated on a girl and told her to eat it.
• Another, Lexi, trafficked into a different network, said some clients called her a “black monkey.”
• Another client threatened to put feces into ice‑cream cones and force her to eat them.
Some victims experienced gang rape. The physical and psychological harm is deep — many suffer lifelong trauma, loss of dignity, and increased risk of STDs including HIV.
The Broader Network & Abuse
These acts are often filmed, linking the trafficking ring with pornography networks.
Disturbingly, there are claims (not documented in this film) that some women are coerced into even more extreme abuse, such as sexual acts with animals, in exchange for large sums of money.
The ring also allegedly involves organ harvesting.
One of the ring’s recruiters, Bash Umar, reportedly had access to Uganda’s national identification database (NIRA)—a major violation of privacy laws.
He supposedly advertised services like passports, national IDs, birth certificates, and travel documents to facilitate trafficking.
Warnings Before You Take that Dubai Job
If you’re a young woman considering Dubai to escape poverty, be cautious. Many of the “cleaning” or “hotel” job offers are fronts for traffickers.
Before you go:
• Vet who you travel with — do you really know them?
• Understand travel and visa costs you may be forced into debt bondage (you “owe” your trafficker) and coerced into sex to pay it off.
• Innocent‑looking opportunities often hide dark intentions.
What’s Being Done — And What Still Needs to Happen
The documentary includes testimony from a former driver, Troy implicating Mwesigwa, and Mwesigwa himself admitted (to an undercover reporter) that he arranges sex parties with Ugandan girls.
A former employee, Monica (aka Mona), died mysteriously. Mwesigwa reportedly said she “wasn’t the first or last” to die.
Public pressure grew. Some Ugandans asked why Mwesigwa hadn’t been arrested.
Now, the Uganda Police have launched investigations, and Interpol has issued a Red Notice against Mwesigwa (meaning many countries are alerted to arrest him).
Whether authorities can dismantle the entire ring—and protect vulnerable women—is still to be seen.
This is not just shocking news — it’s a life‑and‑death warning. If you or someone you know is dreaming of working abroad, especially in the Middle East, research fully, ask questions, and don’t let desperation blind you to danger.
The horrors of modern slavery must end — for every life, dignity matters.