NIRA official remanded over data leak linked to Dubai trafficking ring

• A NIRA registration assistant has been remanded over alleged illegal sharing of citizens’ data.

• Prosecutors say the leaked information helped a suspected Dubai trafficking network.

• The case followed investigations triggered by a BBC documentary on exploited Ugandan women in Dubai.

• Court remanded the suspect until May 18, 2026, after his bail application failed.

A staff member of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has been remanded to prison over allegations of leaking citizens’ personal information to individuals linked to a suspected human trafficking network that targeted young Ugandan women for exploitation in Dubai.

According to a report by The Observer, Douglas Kaaya, also known as Kasozi, appeared before the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife court in Makindye on charges related to the unlawful disclosure and processing of personal data.

The 40-year-old, a resident of Buziga in Makindye Division, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza following police investigations into the matter.

Prosecutors accused Kaaya of illegally accessing National ID information while working as a registration assistant at NIRA before sharing the details with individuals suspected to be part of a trafficking network.

The case follows a recent BBC documentary that highlighted the experiences of Ugandan women allegedly taken to Dubai with promises of jobs but later forced into prostitution and exploitative labour.

The documentary reportedly prompted investigations into possible collaborators within government institutions accused of helping traffickers move victims out of Uganda.

Investigators suspect Kaaya and other individuals still on the run used their positions within NIRA to speed up the processing and verification of identification documents needed for overseas travel.

Court records show the alleged offences were committed on December 4, 2024, at NIRA offices in Makindye. Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Stella Chepcumba is leading the investigations.

Kaaya denied the charges during his court appearance. Although the magistrate informed him of his right to apply for bail, the application failed after court found his documents incomplete.

Court heard that he had not presented his National ID and an introductory letter from his LC I chairperson, both required for bail consideration.

The magistrate remanded him until May 18, 2026, when court is expected to hear a fresh bail application and begin hearing the case.

Prosecution said the alleged acts amounted to a serious violation of Uganda’s data protection laws, which are meant to protect citizens’ personal information from misuse and unauthorised disclosure.

If convicted, Kaaya could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of 245 currency points, or both.

The case has renewed concerns about the safety of Ugandan migrant workers, especially women recruited for jobs in the Middle East. Authorities and human rights groups have for years warned about trafficking networks operating through recruitment agencies and informal channels that take advantage of weak oversight in labour migration processes.