Trapped in Park 8: My Story of Human Trafficking in Cambodia

Kamya Paul, who says he was trafficked from Uganda to Cambodia, stands in an alley in Phnom Penh on March 3, 2026 | Mech Dara/Mekong Independent/Creative Commons

In an article for Mekong Independent, Kamya Paul shares his story about fleeing a scam compound and surviving in Phnom Penh. You can reach out to him at kamyapaul07@gmail.com

My name is Paul. I come from Uganda. Like many young men searching for a better future, I believed in opportunity. I believed in promises. And that belief nearly destroyed me.

Back home in Uganda, I was interviewed for what I was told would be a normal job abroad. The people who interviewed me spoke confidently. They made everything sound legal, professional, and safe. They said I would work as a regular employee, earn good money, and support my family. Nothing sounded suspicious. Nothing sounded dangerous.

So I agreed.

When I arrived in Cambodia, everything changed.

Instead of taking me to a company office or a normal workplace, they transported me to what they called a “compound.” Later, I learned the name of the place: Park 8. It was controlled by Chinese bosses. It was not an office. It was a camp.

That is when I realized something was wrong.