By Atwine Dan
Labour migration has gained prominence in Uganda, just as in other countries in the East and Horn of Africa. Uganda is both a country of origin and a country of destination for international migrants.
As of 2021, Uganda hosted about 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, making it Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country. In addition to refugees and asylum seekers, Uganda is also a country of destination for other international migrants, including labour migrants. As a source country, Uganda has taken advantage of the surge in demand for labour among Middle East countries to externalize labour. Beyond the Middle East, many migrants moved to countries within the Eastern African region. As such, South-South migration corridors to neighboring labour markets for better employment opportunities are critical to Uganda.
Labor exports have contributed to Uganda’s economic growth and development. Remittances from Ugandans working abroad have grown significantly in recent years where about 8.8 percent (796,000) of the population aged 14-64 were unemployed in Uganda as of the 2019/20 fiscal year according to the National Human Resource Development Plan 2020/21 – 2024/25.
Similarly, a 2023 report by the National Planning Authority (NPA) indicates that 4.2 million youth are neither in education, training nor employed.
In the past two years 2023 and 2024, Labour exports earned the government of Uganda Shs25.2billion and this is gained through different Ugandans earning different amounts depending on the type of job offered as employed in factories, Domestic work, security guard among others.
This website visited residents of Rwentuuha Town Council in Igara East Bushenyi district with the help of Hays recruitment agency a licensed labour export company that has helped over 5000 youth taken in Arab countries like Dubai, Quarter, UAE among others to seek jobs and has improved the lively hood of their society.
Edgar Nimusiima, a resident of Bijengye, Kyabugimbi, who, prior to leaving for Abu Dhabi in 2018, was living in bad conditions and told this website that dropping out of school and not sit for (UACE) due to lacking school fees and leaving the village to Kampala escaping 1% of luck that is associated with people living in the village.
He revealed that he bought good land and It’s like eight hectares at sh40million and bought some cows and established a small project under construction running after Mbarara on the way to Isingiro and he still has a contract running because he was given 45 days off.
Political leaders revealed to this website that at least the redundant number of youths has reduced as well as simple cases because at least the youth are looking after their families and educating their siblings.
This has contributed to the development of the area. Says Naboth Nabaasa Muhereza (Mayor Rwentuuha Town Council).
Parents have advised fellows to financially behave upon receiving money sent by their children who work from abroad because when that money is misused, it affects the ability of your children to continue working and can cause mental illness says Miria Kaganzi, a resident of Kihiire in Bijengye and a mother of four children abroad.
This website visited Hays recruitment company located in Lubowa along Entebbe road which was started by one Ahabwe Boaz upon visiting different foreign countries and says the people they take earn on average sh2.5million a month and we have managed to give jobs to over 100,000 people as my company and it is good money that is coming to our nation.
He added that despite initial skepticism, especially due to reports of scams and abuse in the recruitment industry, he built trust by starting with his village mate with a focus on how to build his base which has now grown around the country.
