Labour export reforms offer hope for Ugandans
Tumukunde’s new interventions — rooted in stricter regulation, deeper accountability and a renewed commitment to human dignity — signal a refreshing departure from the complacency that has allowed these tragedies to persist.
Habibu Seruwagi. (File)
______________
OPINION
By Habibu Seruwagi
Uganda stands at a turning point in the long and painful history of labour externalisation, and it is no exaggeration to say that Gen. Henry Tumukunde’s proposed reforms arrive not just as policy adjustments, but as a moral correction long overdue.
For years, the country has watched its sons and daughters leave in search of opportunity, only for many to return in coffins, broken bodies or with stories so harrowing that they shame us all. The labour externalisation programme, once envisioned as a pathway to prosperity, has too often become a corridor of exploitation, abuse and preventable death. Tumukunde’s new interventions — rooted in stricter regulation, deeper accountability and a renewed commitment to human dignity — signal a refreshing departure from the complacency that has allowed these tragedies to persist.
It is impossible to speak honestly about labour externalisation without acknowledging the painful cases that have defi ned public discourse. Ugandans have been beaten, raped, starved and forced into inhumane working conditions in parts of the Middle East and Asia. Some have been locked in homes without food or medical care. Others have been trafficked into forced labour or sexually exploited after being handed over to unscrupulous employers.
The stories of young women returning from Saudi Arabia with deep scars, both physical and emotional, have become disturbingly common. The death of 22-year-old Brenda Nalubega, whose body was returned with unexplained injuries, remains etched in the national memory. So does the case of Sarah Nakandi, who was forced to work for 20 hours a day, beaten regularly and denied medical attention until she collapsed. These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a system that has, for too long, prioritised remittances over the rights and safety of Ugandan workers.
Ending the era of impunity
Gen. Tumukunde’s approach marks a decisive break from this inertia. His insistence on reviewing recruitment company licences based on historical compliance is not only logical but necessary. For too long, agencies with a record of abuse have continued to operate simply because no one bothered to evaluate their past conduct.
By introducing a compliance-based licensing regime, Tumukunde is effectively telling the industry By introducing a compliance-based licensing regime, Tumukunde is effectively telling the industry that the era of impunity is over. Agencies that have trafficked workers, violated contracts or that the era of impunity is over. Agencies that have trafficked workers, violated contracts or atriate distressed failed to repatriate distressed migrants will no longer hide behind paperwork. Their licences will be revoked, and rightly so.
Equally important is his push to stop exporting unskilled labour. This is a bold and visionary stance. Unskilled workers are the most vulnerable to exploitation because they occupy the lowest rung of the labour hierarchy. They earn less, have fewer protections and are easily replaced. By insisting on skills development, Tumukunde is not only improving the earning potential of Ugandan workers, but also enhancing their bargaining power and safety. Skilled workers — caregivers, technicians, welders, drivers and hospitality professionals — are harder to exploit because they are needed, valued and protected by clearer contractual frameworks. This shift will elevate Uganda’s labour exports from desperation-driven migration to dignity-driven employment.
Strengthening international protection
Tumukunde’s reforms also emphasise stronger bilateral agreements with destination countries. This is critical. Uganda cannot protect its workers abroad without formal agreements that bind foreign employers to specific standards. Better wages, humane working conditions, clear dispute resolution mechanisms and guaranteed repatriation rights must be negotiated at the government-to-government level.
These interventions will not only protect workers but also improve Uganda’s international image. The country has, for years, been associated with stories of migrant suffering, prompting some destination countries to question the professionalism of our labour export system. By enforcing higher standards, Uganda signals to the world that it values its citizens and will not tolerate exploitation.
This enhances our diplomatic standing, strengthens our negotiating power and positions Uganda as a source of skilled, disciplined and well-prepared labour. It also aligns with global human rights norms, demonstrating that Uganda is committed to protecting its people beyond its borders.
The reforms will also restore dignity to Ugandan workers. For too long, migrant labour has been treated as a desperate escape rather than a respected profession. Families have watched their daughters leave with fear rather than pride. Communities have mourned instead of celebrating. Tumukunde’s interventions promise to change this narrative. When workers are skilled, protected and valued, migration becomes a pathway to empowerment rather than a gamble with life. The dignity of labour is restored, and Ugandans abroad become ambassadors of national excellence rather than victims of systemic neglect.
These changes are long overdue, and stakeholders must embrace them rather than resist. Recruitment companies should see this as an opportunity to professionalise, not a threat to their business. Compliance should not be viewed as punishment but as a pathway to credibility.
Civil society should support the reforms by amplifying worker voices and monitoring implementation. Parliament should provide oversight without politicising the process. And Ugandans themselves should demand nothing less than a system that respects their humanity.
The minister deserves praise for confronting a problem that many before him avoided. His leadership is not only progressive but courageous. Reforming labour externalisation requires political will, moral clarity and a willingness to challenge powerful interests. Tumukunde has demonstrated all three. If implemented fully, his interventions will save lives, restore dignity and elevate Uganda’s standing in the global labour market. The country must rally behind this effort, not fight it. The time for change is now, and Uganda cannot afford to return to the painful past.
The writer is a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission of Uganda