Let us address the causes of brain drain

Dec 16, 2009

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promised scientists in local universities and those in the Diaspora improved remuneration if they returned to the country.

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promised scientists in local universities and those in the Diaspora improved remuneration if they returned to the country. Addressing the Makerere University Academic Staff Association at the weekend, the President observed rightly that scientists were crucial for the socio-economic transformation of any country through research and innovations.

While the President’s strategy of luring those in the Diaspora to return is plausible, it might be a tall order to bring them back without addressing the causes of their migration.

The movement of skilled professionals from Africa to the developed world costs the continent $4b (sh8 trillion) a year to replace them with expatriates.

Uganda is estimated to lose 50 doctors a year due to brain drain while as high as 30% of all medical doctors graduating migrate abroad. This is too costly for a poor country that spends an estimated $8,000 to train a medical doctor. This translates into a loss of $400,000 (sh624m) annually, excluding the cost of primary and secondary education.

We should know that it is cheaper for the developed world to import than train skilled professionals.

So grave is the problem of brain drain that it was the main focus at the Conference of rectors, vice-chancellors, and university presidents (COREVIP) in Tripoli in 2007.

The university chiefs observed that unless the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of brain drain are addressed, it will not only be difficult to woo the professionals in the Diaspora back, but also hard to stem the skills hemorrhage. The ‘pull’ factors that Uganda and Africa needs to address to stem brain drain include generous terms and conditions of service, state-of-the-art facilities, freedom of association, peaceful political environment and opportunities for career advancement. The ‘push’ factors are the opposite of the ‘pull’ factors.

Uganda has gone a long way to restore democracy and good governance. Improving facilities and paying for the professionals will, therefore, go a long way in retaining the skilled work force.

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