By Our Reporter
Days ago, we carried a story of how owners of an unlicensed recruitment agency, Forbes Enterprises Ltd, have come under fire for continuing to recruit desperate Ugandans for jobs abroad yet aware their license was withdrawn.
Feedback following our story points to prominent and untouchable figures behind the company whose license was suspended and subsequently withdrawn for trading outside the contract.
But who are these men?
WILBRAOD TWINAMATSIKO
He is young, rich and famous. In his early 30s, the son of Isingiro district Electoral Commission Registrar is known as Wilber among his peers. He formerly worked with the Internal Security Organization (ISO). During his time at ISO, he operated a lot at the Entebbe International Airport. It is, therefore, not surprising that he lives in Entebbe, an expensive town in Wakiso district. This news site understands that Twinamatsiko was a co-founder of the defunct Middle East Consultants, a recruitment agency whose license was suspended years ago over issues relating to human trafficking.
After Middle East was banned, Twinamatsiko teamed up with Didas Kaginda to form Forbes Enterprises. They operate in Kiwatule, just behind U Save supermarket.
However, Twinamatsiko was dismissed from ISO over deals at the airport. The deals, our sources say ranged from human trafficking and bribes from illegal entrants.
Twinamatsiko is reportedly in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as he markets Forbes.
KAGINDA
As for Kaginda, he is a Member of Parliament (MP) flop, having contested in the just concluded polls under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket to unseat Capt. Kahonda in Mitooma. However, he was defeated miserably. A source familiar with his activities says Kaginda is a young man who feels he can do anything yet gets away with it. He is connected, a source said, “with friends in both security and government.”
HOW THEY OPERATE AN ILLEGAL COMPANY
Twinamatsiko and Kaginda are said to be using Forbes Enterprises to recruit. But this is being done in a way that they get another recruiting company profile and submit it to UAE or Qatar agents for job orders. “When they get it, they send to ministry for approval. They recruit under Forbes Enterprises company name and pay bribe to their airport network for clearance of their trafficked victims after paying some commission to the approved company. Back in Uganda, they survive on non-refundable fees from desperate Ugandans,” a source privy to the dealings of Forbes told this news site last night.
In fact, just last week, over 20 of their candidates were blocked at Entebbe International Airport over lack of clear documentation.
This news site understands that Forbes’ license was suspended more than one year back over misconduct and human trafficking allegations after it emerged that the owner, Kaginda had illegally recruited girls outside Mussaned system to Saudi Arabia and Dubai as domestic workers but unfortunately, one of the girls died.
Speaking to an official of the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, mid-week, he confirmed that Forbes’ license is still under suspension.
“Their license is under suspension. I am not aware that they are operating but let me send my people there,” Milton Turyasiima, the Assistant Commissioner Employment Services told us by telephone.
Read our earlier story:
https://www.secondopinion.co.ug/banned-recruitment-agency-resorts-to-human-trafficking/