Uganda is moving to restrict and block the externalization of unskilled labor, shifting its policy to prioritize only skilled professionals for employment abroad.
The goal is to professionalize the labor market, secure better wages, increase national revenue, and protect citizens from exploitation and abuse.
According to Ministry of Gender officials,the move focuses on sending certified and skilled workers rather than raw, low-cadre labor,improve workers welfare,boost economic returns so that outbound workers command higher salaries, which translate to improved remittances and greater economic value for Uganda.
Uganda earns about $2.5 billion annually from diaspora remittances, locally known as “kyeyo cash,” according to the Bank of Uganda Cross-Border Remittance Report.
These funds serve as a primary source of foreign exchange and household support, rivaling traditional foreign currency earners like coffee and tourism.
United States contributes $702 million (about 28% of total inflows) followed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Canada combine with the US account for 71.2% ($1.78 billion) of all external remittance
Lawrence Egulu, Commissioner of Employment Services ministry of Gender cautioned the general public, especially the youth seeking employment abroad to beware of fraudulent unauthorised labour recruiting companies whose operations are questionable.
Agnes Igoye, the Deputy Coordinator of Anti-human trafficking department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, called on Ugandans to report individuals or agencies involved in trafficking people to foreign countries.
“Unscrupulous labour exporting companies are continuing to take advantage of young girls who are in a vulnerable economic state. They are ignorantly accepting to go abroad, without knowing what they are going to face, including sexual exploitation, torture, removal of their organs and sometimes murders.”she stated.
Igoye asked Ugandans planning to leave for green pastures abroad to do due diligence on the legitimacy and legality of the labour exporting companies to avoid falling into the trap of human traffickers.
Jessica Angida from International Labour Organization asked governments to address the challenge of poverty and unemployment.
She described employment and poverty as key factors driving Ugandans, especially the youth to go abroad in search of jobs to earn a living.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Labour Market Survey, Uganda’s national unemployment rate stands at 12.2%
Figures from the Gender ministry indicate that in 2021 alone, 84,879 Ugandans were externalized, with the majority going to Saudi Arabia 75,873, Qatar 3,991 and UAE 3,368. Others went to Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Somalia and Poland.
Hundreds of young Ugandans, particularly young women, leave Entebbe International Airport daily to take up domestic and service jobs in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan.
