An examination of the role of police in combating human trafficking-related insecurities in Kampala Metropolitan Area

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the role of police in combating human trafficking-related insecurities in the Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA). To accomplish this, the study was guided by three specific objectives, namely 1) to identify the human trafficking-related insecurities in KMA, 2) to examine the existing strategies used by the Uganda Police Force in combating human traffickingrelated insecurities in KMA, and 3) to establish the challenges faced by the Uganda Police Force in addressing the human trafficking insecurities in KMA. The study adopted a descriptive crosssectional design and employed a mixed-methods approach. A sample of 108 respondents was selected from a targeted population using a combination of stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Findings of the study revealed that 86.5% of respondents acknowledged human trafficking as a serious security threat, while 83.1% agreed that trafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation was increasing. The results further showed that 83.2% believed women were the most vulnerable victims of trafficking, and 77.5% of participants reported that human trafficking made communities feel unsafe. Regarding strategies, 78.6% of respondents confirmed that joint operations between police and immigration exist at border points, and 76.5% agreed that partnerships with NGOs help in victim rehabilitation. However, significant challenges were reported, including inadequate training (noted by 81.9% of respondents), corruption among officers (79.7%), and a lack of shelter for victims (78.5%). Regression analysis indicated that police strategies account for 42.6% of the variation in trafficking-related insecurities (R² = 0.426), with community policing (β = 0.267, p = 0.000) and partnerships with NGOs (β = 0.234, p = 0.001) being significant predictors. The study concludes that human trafficking-related insecurities are widespread and affect both individual safety and community stability. Police interventions are in place but are undermined by systemic and resource-related challenges. The study recommends strengthening community policing, expanding formal partnerships with NGOs, enhancing officer training on trafficking laws and victim handling, increasing funding for shelters and logistical support, and enforcing anticorruption mechanisms within the Uganda Police Force. Although this study has examined the role of police, there is a need for a future study to examine the effectiveness of these roles in combating human trafficking insecurities.