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 says he is a former London bus driver, told our undercover reporter he could provide women for a sex party at a starting price of $1,000 (£740), adding that many can do pretty much everything clients want them to.
Rumours of wild sex parties in the UAE emirate have circulated for years. The hashtag #Dubaiportapotty, which has been viewed more than 450 million times on TikTok, links to parodies and speculative exposés of women accused of being money-hungry influencers secretly funding their lifestyles by fulfilling the most excessive of sexual requests.
However, the reality is even darker. Young Ugandan women told us they had not expected to have to undertake sex work for Mr Mwesigwa. In some cases, they believed they were travelling to the UAE to work in places like supermarkets or hotels.
At least one of Mr Mwesigwa's clients regularly requests to defecate on the women, according to a woman named Mia, whose name we have changed to protect her identity, and who says she was trapped by Mr Mwesigwa's network.
Mr Mwesigwa denies the allegations, claiming he helps women find accommodation through landlords, and that women follow him to parties because of his wealthy Dubai contacts.
Tragically, our investigation also revealed that two women linked to Mr Mwesigwa have died after falling from high-rise apartments. Although their deaths were ruled as suicides, their friends and family feel the police should have investigated further.
Mr Mwesigwa commented that the incidents were investigated by Dubai police and directed us to contact them for information; they did not reply to our inquiry.
Women like Monic Karungi, who arrived in Dubai from western Uganda, sought what they believed would be jobs in supermarkets. Monic ended up sharing a flat with dozens of other women working for Mr Mwesigwa. According to one roommate, Monic was unhappy because her expectations were shattered upon arrival.
As Mia narrated, Monic had been deceived into believing that her new job was legitimate, but soon found herself trapped under debts amounting to $27,000 after just a few weeks in Dubai.
The disturbing nature of clients’ requests is also alarming, as one woman explained how African women were particularly sought for degrading acts with extreme sexual fetishes.
Our investigation utilized undercover research and open-source intelligence to trace Mwesigwa's operations, uncovering a network that exploits vulnerable migrants.
With deals starting at $1,000, the scope of Mwesigwa's operation represents a significant human rights concern, emphasizing the need for greater scrutiny and accountability regarding migrant workers in the UAE.
