Govt rolls out new mechanisms to protect Ugandan migrant workers

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The Government has unveiled a raft of new and strengthened protection mechanisms aimed at safeguarding Ugandan migrant workers from exploitation, illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

The measures were announced by labour, employment and industrial relations state minister Esther Davinia Anyakun during the launch of the Safe Labour Migration Awareness Campaign at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala city on February 5, 2026.

Anyakun said the Government is strengthening systems to ensure that every Ugandan who chooses to work abroad does so safely, legally and with dignity, using approved recruitment channels and verified job orders.

“These mechanisms are designed to protect Ugandans at every stage of the migration process — before departure, during employment abroad and upon return,” she said, noting that the initiative is intended to promote safe, legal and regular labour migration.

Among the key measures are mandatory pre-departure orientation and training, strengthened clearance and verification procedures, enforcement of four-party employment contracts, and enhanced collaboration with Ugandan missions abroad to monitor the welfare of workers.

Anyakun said the ministry has also strengthened complaints-handling and support systems, enabling migrant workers, their families and the public to report cases of exploitation, contract violations or suspected illegal recruitment through official channels, including the Employment Management Information System (EMIS), Ugandan embassies and a dedicated call centre.

Unlicensed agents warned

She warned Ugandans against unlicensed agents and tour and travel companies advertising jobs abroad, particularly on social media, stressing that the government does not license individuals to recruit workers.

“Ugandans intending to work abroad must only use companies licensed by the ministry and ensure that job orders have been approved before making any commitment,” Anyakun said.

The minister also emphasised that employment contracts must clearly state the nature of work, salary and terms of service, and that anyone making payments to licensed companies must obtain official receipts. 

She added that domestic workers are not required to pay recruitment fees and must undergo mandatory 14-day pre-departure orientation training at accredited centres.

Anyakun said Uganda’s labour externalisation programme, initiated in 2005, has created an estimated 285,000 employment opportunities and generated remittances of about $1.3 billion last year, contributing to household incomes, skills transfer and national development.

Between December 2021 and June 2025, she said, the ministry collected about Sh34.2 billion in non-tax revenue, mainly from licensing fees, job order processing, training centre accreditation and monitoring of workers abroad.

Uganda currently has 246 licensed recruitment companies, with most migrant workers deployed to Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

With between 600,000 and 700,000 Ugandans, mainly youth, entering the labour market each year, Anyakun said labour externalisation remains a key short-term strategy to address unemployment, but warned that migration undertaken outside government systems exposes workers to serious risks.