Kampala: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem has revealed that there is operational labour export agreement between Uganda and Unite Arab Emirates (UAE).
In a plenary sitting Chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga Mr. Oryem said any labour exporting company that is taking Ugandans for labour in UAE were legally doing it.
“The minister of labour gender and social development is in the process of renewing the agreement that recently expired for Ugandans to access green pastures,” he revealed.
Consequently after taking the floor, Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi revealed that when budget committee paid a visit to Jaira state, they found a labour recruitment center which resembles a well organised slave market where highest bid walks away with a helper.
“We were all surprised to see slave market, I wondered why Ugandans sell off their properties to such countries, we always get reports of Ugandans suffering but instead they continue yearning to leave their motherland,” he said in a plenary urging Ugandan government to establish guidelines that are to be followed in case
He revealed that because of mistreatment 16 girls committed suicide in 2017. However, Oryem refuted all allegations saying whatever was said by Butambala MP is a total lie and they have never received that such information.
“Such statements have resulted into s diplomatic protest raised by UAE asserting that such allegations are meant to blackmail the said nation,” Mr. Oryem reacted to Muwanga’s allegations.
Currently there over 40 licensed companies those take Ugandan nationals to Arabian countries for casual labour. However, there has been various reports indicating that Ugandan nationals are mistreated, tortured and some are killed on top of confiscating their travel documents.
When contacted, known phone numbers for Permanent Secretary for ministry of labour Pius Bigirimana all off.
The above allegations follows confirmation of a general labour recruitment bilateral agreement that was in January signed between Ugandan Saudi Arabia allowing Ugandan professionals and causal labourers, such as doctors, engineers, carpenters and welders.
