The Uganda Government on Thursday launched the second Uganda National Action Plan (NAP) for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, and the National Referral Guidelines for Management of Victims of Trafficking. 
The launch of the two instruments in Kampala was part of activities for commemoration of the 7th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed every 30 July. 
It was presided over by the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon Obiga Mario Kania, witnessed by a limited number of dignitaries. 
The National Action Plan and the Guidelines were produced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under the Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme. BMM is a regional, multi-year, multi-partner programme funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is coordinated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). IOM is one of the implementing partners, with activities in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. 
BMM aims at improving migration management in the Horn of Africa, notably by supporting partners in the region to better address irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. 

TACKLING HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
Uganda is a country of origin, transit, and destination of trafficked men, women, and children subjected to various forms of exploitation, including forced labour, child sacrifice, street begging, child marriage and sex trafficking. However, the authorities are making significant strides to address the problem. In 2009, Uganda passed the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, which mandates Government to produce a five-year National Action Plan on TiP. 
Uganda’s first NAP, which expired in December 2018, was based on five strategic objectives, including: enhancing national policies and legal frameworks, increasing successful prosecutions, reducing vulnerability to human trafficking, improving victim protection and assistance mechanisms, as well as developing well-coordinated systems and structures to manage the crime. 
In his Foreword, Internal Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo, said the second NAP builds on lessons learnt from implementing the first, and urged partners to adjust their investment plans accordingly. 
“The key strategic pillars include establishment of structures and systems to prevent the crime in a sustainable way; ability to systematically identify, protect and support victims; effective investigations and prosecution of the offenders; and creation of a functional partnership between players at both the national and transnational levels,” the Minister said. 
The National Referral Guidelines for Management of Victims of Trafficking were developed to harmonize and have a coordinated approach to how different stakeholders handle TiP information and cases, targeting both victims and perpetrators. 
Speakers at the event hailed the support of Development partners, especially the European Union and the German Government.  

State Minister Obiga Kania referenced the transnational nature of trafficking, saying: “This means the challenge is not only internal but cuts across countries. One cannot work in isolation to solve the problem. That is why our audience has both a national and international outlook. We appreciate the support of our Development Partners who have supported Uganda’s counter-trafficking efforts ever since we passed our Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009.” 
The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Rosa Malango, commended the Government for all the efforts taken to fight trafficking, but noted that more work needed to be done, in Uganda and the region. 
“We must invest in awareness and supporting survivors, but also, and just as importantly, in a robust criminal justice system. We must work to ensure that the national action taken by Uganda is matched by similar action in the neighborhood at the regional and continental levels,” she said. 
IOM Uganda Chief of Mission Sanusi Tejan Savage said TiP remained a big problem because of the confluence of many vulnerable young people, unscrupulous traffickers, and the fact that it is big business. 
Said Mr Savage: “The National Action Plan, as a policy document, provides strategic direction from which all partners can draw from in providing support while the National referral guidelines will help in strengthening a coordinated and structured approach to victim assistance among the various actors.” 
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For more information and media enquiries, please contact IOM Uganda Public Information Officer, Richard M Kavuma. Email: ugandapiu@iom.int Tel +256 772 709 917 / +256 700 646403