Business 30 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Grapples with Labour Rights Crisis Amid Booming Migrant Remittances
Uganda's labour export sector brings in over Shs5 trillion in remittances annually, yet migrant workers face exploitation, abuse, and weak protection abroad, prompting calls for better oversight and funding. Experts urge registration with embassies, more labour attachés, and reinvestment of sector revenues to safeguard workers. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/prosper/inside-the-growing-labour-rights-crisis-5407606
Uganda’s programme for sending workers abroad has emerged as a key source of foreign exchange, with remittances exceeding Shs5 trillion last year. These funds bolster households and stabilise the economy, but serious risks persist for the hundreds of thousands of Ugandans in Gulf countries.
Concerns escalated after cases like that of Vicky Ajok, a domestic worker in Syria arrested for allegedly killing her abusive employer amid unpaid wages and deprivation. Authorities now stress registration with Ugandan embassies for swift emergency aid, as noted by Lawrence Egulu, Commissioner for Employment Services.
Launched on March 12, 2026, the National Migration Policy aims to regulate migration flows. Yet, gaps remain: only a few labour attachés cover over 500,000 workers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE, amid inconsistent data and trafficking threats.
Kenneth Olooka of Kyeyo Initiative Uganda highlights the lack of support funds, legal aid, and vulnerability under systems like Saudi Arabia’s kafala. He cites over 720 trafficking cases in Cambodia alone from 2024-2025.
Usher Wilson Owere of Externalisation of Labour Powerhouse calls for coordination across ministries and funding, drawing from the Philippines’ model of robust overseas labour centres.
MP Christine Nakimwero Kaaya demands budget reinvestment from the Shs30 billion-plus sector revenue into safe houses, embassy oversight, and accurate data tracking. Sarah Awelo of Voices for Labour warns of high death rates among young migrants and poor local working conditions.
With population growth outpacing domestic jobs, strengthening protections is vital to sustain this economic lifeline.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)