IOM chief hails govt for establishing migrant labour centre
“We commend the establishment of a national comprehensive return and reintegration programme by the ministry. We are ready to support the new design and operationalisation of sustainable integrated systems, and explore potential financing opportunities through the African Union and other partners,” Sanusi revealed.
Sanusi said IOM looks forward to deepening its relationship with the ministry leadership to ensure that all migrants leaving the country are protected wherever they seek employment, and to follow up to see that they have something tangible they can do when they return. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)
KAMPALA - The Chief of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Uganda, Sanusi Tejan Savage, has commended the Ugandan government for establishing a Migrant Labour Centre.
Sanusi said IOM is fully committed to supporting the Government in promoting migrant workers’ safety and strengthening migrant governance.
He said they are also ready to promote the expansion of opportunities for migrant workers both locally and abroad.
Sanusi made the remarks during a courtesy call to the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Lt. Gen. (rtd) Henry Tumukunde, in Kampala on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
In March this year, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development launched the migrant labour centre under the National Organisation of Trade Unions to monitor labour export.
“We have extensive experience in supporting returnee and reintegration programmes. We have integrated returnees from the Gulf countries through entrepreneurship support skills, skills development and livelihood assistance, benefiting 72 returnees to-date,” he asserted.
On his part, Tumukunde said they fought (during the 1981-86 National Resistance Army guerilla war) to bring peace in the country. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)
He commended the role played by the Government to see that all the Ugandan migrants from South Africa got trained with skills to enable them to get re-absorbed into society.
“We commend the establishment of a national comprehensive return and reintegration programme by the ministry. We are ready to support the new design and operationalisation of sustainable integrated systems, and explore potential financing opportunities through the African Union and other partners,” he revealed.
Currently, he said Uganda still faces challenges of Ugandans still held up in South East Asia and Cambodia, who were deceived through fraudulent job offers, adding that they also require assistance to return home.
On his part, Tumukunde said they fought (during the 1981-86 National Resistance Army guerilla war) to bring peace in the country.
"We shall make sure citizens within the country and those seeking immigrant work operate in a safe environment at their workplaces. We do not have problems with refugees living in Uganda as long as they have proper documents like Eritreans and Somalis, who have chosen to stay here and are doing business. We should be proud of our continent in supporting each other no matter where one comes from in Africa,” Tumukunde observed.
The minister said he would want to see professionals who came back from South Africa being offered jobs since they have skills needed in various professions.
“We are coming up with a new migrants’ law, which all licensed migrant agencies will have to follow to recruit migrants. Migrants will also undergo training before leaving the country. We plan to have a system to monitor them at their employers to see that they come back after completing their contracts,” he said.
Tumukunde explained that all migrants leaving the country should be given jobs they applied for, kept safe, and should be able to come back and utilise their earnings back home.