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Some of the Girls that had been detained in Saudi Arabia (Courtesy Picture)
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By Our Reporter
Following a surge in complaints of exploitation, the government of Uganda has launched an initiative to document and repatriate over 800 distressed migrant workers in the Gulf states. Senior presidential envoy on diaspora affairs, Abbey Walusimbi, said yesterday that many of those targeted for repatriation are in Saudi Arabia. “In Saudi Arabia, there are over 582, and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), over 100. We also have those who have been sentenced to life in prison in Jordan. Many of these Ugandans in the Gulf region are stranded on the streets, while others face various charges, including prostitution,” he said.
Over the past decade, the number of Ugandan migrant workers in the Gulf has risen dramatically, with Saudi Arabia hosting over 200,000 workers, making it the largest destination for Ugandan labor migration. However, enforcement of labor protections remains inadequate both domestically and internationally, leaving many workers vulnerable to exploitation and debt bondage.
“The President directed us to form a taskforce to help these Ugandans, and the State Minister for Labor, Employment, and Industrial Relations, Esther Anyakun, has arrived in the UAE for that purpose. So, we are beginning work on this initiative,” Walusimbi said.
NUP President, Robert Kyagulanyi recently led and initiative to repatriate some of the stranded girls from Saudi Arabia. (Courtesy Picture)
This follows a recent conference on combating drug and human trafficking at the President's Office in Kampala. The conference was held after President Museveni directed the permanent secretary in the President’s Office, Hajji Yunus Kakande, to develop strategies for combating drug and human trafficking.
During the meeting, convened by senior presidential advisor on Middle East affairs Dr. Mohamed Kisuule, a taskforce to combat trafficking in persons was formed. The taskforce began by holding discussions with Mohammed Kezaala, the deputy head of mission in Doha, and Ugandans in Qatar to strengthen collaboration between the government and the diaspora community.
On October 19, Anyakun revealed that Saudi Arabia had agreed to pardon Ugandan migrant workers stranded in deportation centers and prisons across the country. This followed a meeting between a Ugandan delegation she led and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed Alrajhi.
Increasing numbers
While passing the Employment (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2022 last May, Parliament noted that Uganda has seen a recent increase in the number of Ugandans seeking employment abroad, as well as migrants coming to Uganda for employment. The Committee on Gender, Labor, and Social Development, which reviewed the bill, reported that between 2016 and June 2022, a total of 201,637 Ugandans had traveled abroad for work through the line ministry. According to statistics from the Ministry of Gender, Flavia Kabahenda, who chaired the committee, stated that recruitment companies have expanded to over 400, with many migrant workers concentrated in Middle Eastern countries.
Kabahenda, Kyegegwa District Woman MP, also noted that between January and June 2022, the government collected sh12 billion from fees paid by foreign employers for Ugandan migrant workers. “The scale of remittances and the sheer number of labor exports highlights the need for legislation in this crucial area,” Kabahenda said. She pointed out that the industry faces various challenges, including illicit or concealed movements of persons, ongoing struggles and hardships for migrant workers, and difficulties in repatriation, leading to public calls for assistance.
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