Uganda flags off 30 domestic workers to Saudi Arabia

Uganda has flagged off 30 females to Saudi Arabia following the lifting of a ban that had been imposed on exporting domestic workers to the Muslim country.

The workers were flagged off on Friday at a function that was graced by the gender Minister Janat Mukwaya and Saudi's ambassador to Uganda, Abdallah Alqahtany held at the Ministry headquarters in Kampala.

This is the first batch of Ugandan domestic workers to be exported to Saudi Arabia since the ban was issued in 2015. The women are expected to set off within the next two weeks.

Mukwaya said that Saudi Arabia and Uganda have agreed on new terms of employment for workers from Uganda.

The 2015 ban was issued following an outcry over the mistreatment of Ugandan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries. 

Mukwaya asked the girls going to Saudi Arabia to plan for their income while in Saudi Arabia.

Most of the girls who had received visas from different recruitment agencies, said their dreams had come true.