The need to salvage the labour externalisation sector long overdue

By Amb. Abbey Walusimbi

If someone from the past regime resurrected today, they would be astonished at how things have changed.

For instance, the migration curve from the previous regime connotes that most Ugandans didn’t travel voluntarily, they were seeking asylum in a few African and European destinations.

On the contrary, however, today, hundreds of thousands of Ugandans are voluntarily migrating to more than 20 destinations all over the country to seek greener pastures thanks to President Yoweri Museveni.

The NRM Government in an effort to enable more and more bazzukulu improve their lives and constructively contribute to the country’s economic growth, has put in place systems and processes to enable this free movement, which has also curbed cases of human trafficking, whose perpetrators were taking advantage of the gaps in the sector.

Travelling overseas, boarding a plane and securing a visa to a foreign country used to be the preserve of a few distinguished citizens like children of high-ranking civil servants like ministers.

Back in the day children would shout “Bye Bye Museveni” at a plane flying over their homesteads but today boarding a plane is simply a phone call away.

We can’t take for granted our relationship with all these countries, especially the Middle East countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait.

You will be amazed that these countries didn’t colonise us, but are increasingly opening their borders to Ugandans. While at the airport in Doha, Qatar recently, I was amazed to hear some boys chatting in one of our local dialects. It seemed like I was at another Entebbe Airport in a foreign country. President Museveni has consistently maintained the need for good foreign relations.

His Excellency has also maintained that this programme should be used as a vehicle to reduce income inequalities by ensuring that both professional and non-skilled Ugandans can get an opportunity to work with some training.

Relatedly, as under the National Development Plans, gender equity has been enhanced and more women are beating the obstacles that were preventing them from getting employment opportunities locally by taking up jobs abroad.

Statistics indicate that Saudi Arabia alone is said to employ about 131,970 women as domestic workers of the estimated 620,000 migrant workers spread all over the world. These women like their male counterparts are able to benefit their families and communities.

 They have purchased land, educated their children and built homes among others just from a mere sh20,000 registration fee. At the macro level, economists will attest to the fact that labour externalisation is beating coffee with an estimated annual earnings from remittances of $900m.

Recruitment companies have increased from a 79 to more than 300. Training institutions also emerging.

Obviously, it is not all rosy, several challenges have been registered. There is an increased outcry regarding the violation of workers’ rights, lack of social welfare and protection, exploitation of the workers before travel by agents and quack recruiters as well as exploitation by family members who swindle all their earnings.

On a positive note, they indicate a growing sector because growth comes with many evils and, therefore, it is incumbent upon the actors to come straight and salvage the sector before the lumbugu suffocates it. We can’t simply fold our hands as the sector goes into a slump.

I share the view of Bwana Wilson Owere whom His Excellency commonly refers to as the “IGP of workers” that constant bickering, disharmony and intrigue is uncalled for since it was the President’s vision that all his bazzukulu benefit from this “baby”.

The stakeholders should seize the opportunity in the positive involvement of people like Owere.

The labour powerhouse campaign to have all actors under one umbrella should also be supported. Positive engagements of public regulators like URBRA, IRA and private players like banks cannot be underestimated and it is a sure sign that the sector should be salvaged.

I, therefore, call on all the actors, ministries, civil society, and migrant workers to join forces to rescue the sector. New markets can be opened because countries like Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Canada, Australia, UK, Spain, US and have expressed interest in recruiting Ugandans. A deliberate programme to promote business is also available. Business interests can only be protected when there is consistency and stability. If the sector is well co-ordinated, the problems of quack recruiters, double standards and workers’ rights and welfare will be solved. We are all working under the same government. United we stand.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

The writer is a Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs

Office of The President