Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | President Yoweri Museveni’s daughter, Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, has voiced her concern over the increasing number of young Ugandans migrating to the Middle East for employment opportunities.
Referring to the growing labour externalization market as “a sign of a cursed nation,” the First Daughter urged Ugandans to seek divine intervention through prayer.
“It is a curse for our children to go and start working in people’s houses in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
“The Lord wants us to be blessed here in our land. We need to break that curse of our people going to get jobs as maids in people’s homes.”
Mrs. Rwabwogo, who serves as the senior Pastor of the Covenant Nations Church in Luzira, delivered a sermon on Tuesday 14, May 2024 at the “Light Up Ankole Region for Jesus” Crusade held at Booma Grounds in Mbarara City, Uganda.
Labour externalization in Uganda: A contentious topic
The rising trend of labour externalization, predominantly to the Middle East, continues to spark debate in Uganda.
According to estimates from the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, more than 358,000 Ugandans are presently working in the Middle East, with popular destinations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
These migrant workers collectively send approximately $1.2 billion back to Uganda annually, making a significant contribution to the country’s economy. However, there are widespread reports of human rights violations and insufficient legal safeguards for these workers.
Instances of exploitation and mistreatment by dishonest employers and illegal recruitment agencies have been reported. To address these concerns, the Ugandan government and relevant stakeholders are collaborating to enhance the regulatory framework and improve management of the labor externalization sector.
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President Yoweri Museveni recently criticized the practice of sending Uganda’s young workforce abroad, emphasizing the country’s potential in various sectors such as commercial agriculture, industry, services, and ICT.
During her sermon as the chief host of the crusade, Mrs. Rwabwogo urged believers to pray for Uganda to overcome challenges like labor externalization and corruption, which she described as curses plaguing the nation.
“Parts of the country are clothed not in salvation but in wickedness, sin and corruption,” Mrs. Rwabwogo said.
“We need to remove the garments of inequity and corruption and clothe ourselves with salvation and righteousness,” she added.
