In brief
A BBC investigation has identified Charles Mwesigwa as the head of a degrading sex-trade ring in Dubai, where vulnerable women, misled with promises of legitimate jobs, are exploited in the nightlife. The investigation reveals horrific truths about the treatment these women endure, including reported extreme fetishes from clients. Additionally, the deaths of two women associated with the operation raise serious concerns about their safety and the adequacy of investigations by Dubai authorities.
Warning: Contains disturbing content and graphic descriptions of sexual acts
A man running a sex ring operating out of Dubai's most glamorous neighbourhoods, and exploiting vulnerable women, has been identified by a BBC investigation.
Charles Mwesigwa, who claims to be a former London bus driver, revealed to our undercover reporter that he could provide women for a sex party for a starting price of $1,000 (£740), insisting that many could do pretty much everything clients wanted.
Rumours of wild sex parties in the UAE emirate have circulated for years. The hashtag #Dubaiportapotty has amassed over 450 million views on TikTok, linking to speculative exposés about women claimed to be funding extravagant lifestyles through extreme sexual requests.
However, the BBC’s World Service investigation reveals a much darker reality. Young women from Uganda believed they were traveling to the UAE for jobs in supermarkets or hotels, only to find themselves ensnared in Mwesigwa's network of sex work.
Our investigation uncovered claims of extreme client fetishes, including requests for defecation on the women. One survivor, known as Mia, detailed how she was coerced into violating her own limits. Furthermore, it has been revealed that two women linked to Mwesigwa died after falls from high-rise buildings, with families feeling the investigations into their deaths were inadequate.
Despite allegations, Mwesigwa denies any wrongdoing and claims to facilitate women finding living arrangements. When confronted about the deaths of the women linked with him, he asserted that authorities had investigated and found his operations legitimate.
Interviews with survivors paint a horrifying picture of systemic exploitation and abuse, with women reportedly trapped by high debts imposed by Mwesigwa. One victim, Monic Karungi, believed she was coming to Dubai for a legitimate job but found herself in a dangerous environment where her life ultimately ended tragically with her fall.
Activists have raised alarms over Mwesigwa's operations, stating that they frequently rescue individuals who were promised legitimate employment only to be sold into sex work. The investigation reveals the urgent need for protective measures against such exploitation, highlighting the dangers faced by vulnerable individuals in the pursuit of better opportunities abroad.
