By Our Reporter
What began as a search for opportunity ended in disillusionment for 51 individuals who were rescued this week by Nagalama Police from a suspected human trafficking and job scam operating under the guise of a recruitment campaign by AIM Global Alliance, a so-called networking company.
The dramatic rescue operation, conducted on April 2, 2025, followed multiple reports from concerned community members about suspicious activities targeting job seekers in Kalagi, Mukono District. According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, victims had been misled with promises of high-paying jobs and forced to part with their savings in pursuit of nonexistent employment opportunities.
Each victim was reportedly required to pay a UGX 150,000 “training fee”, after which they were drawn into a complex, pyramid-style operation. Recruits were not only pressured to sell AIM Global’s products but were also coerced into bringing in friends and relatives, who in turn were asked to pay as much as UGX 1.5 million for product kits—an entry fee into the network that spiraled into further exploitation.
Victims were lured with promises of earning up to UGX 1 million per month, but this “income” was dependent entirely on their ability to recruit more people into the scheme, raising serious red flags about the operation’s legitimacy and ethical conduct.
The police crackdown revealed harrowing living conditions. Victims were crammed into tiny, unhygienic spaces in three locations:
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Kakola Village, Kyabakadde Parish (Kyampisi Sub-county): 14 individuals (3 males, 11 females) found sharing a single small room.
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Kalagi Village, Naggalama A Ward (Nakifuma Naggalama Town Council): 20 victims (10 males, 10 females) living in one overcrowded room.
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Bbosa Village, Kyabakadde Parish: 14 others (6 males, 8 females), also confined to a single tight space.
Many of the victims, some of whom had traveled from distant parts of the country, spoke of lost hopes and financial strain, having borrowed or sold belongings to afford the so-called training fees.
Two suspects, identified as Kasule Zephaniah and Nantima Evelyn, are currently in custody at Nagalama Police Station. Authorities believe the pair orchestrated the scam, preying on the desperation of unemployed youth and vulnerable individuals seeking better livelihoods.
Police have since launched a broader investigation into the activities of AIM Global Alliance, and whether the company has ties to a larger regional or international network of exploitation.
Deputy Spokesperson Owoyesigyire urged Ugandans to be vigilant and skeptical of job offers that require upfront payments or emphasize recruitment over qualifications.
“We continue to warn the public against falling for fraudulent job recruitment schemes,” he said. “No legitimate employer will ask for money in exchange for a job. We urge anyone who comes across suspicious activities to report them immediately.”
The incident has once again shone a spotlight on the rising number of job scams and exploitation cases in Uganda, especially in the wake of high youth unemployment. Authorities are calling for stronger regulation of informal employment networks and better public awareness to safeguard citizens from modern forms of human trafficking masquerading as opportunity.
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