Ugandan migrant workers who sought greener pastures abroad are now living in severe distress as a result of labour externalisation pressures.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Vincent bagiire said that labour externalisation pressure has driven up consular distress cases, repatriation and welfare demands, especially in the Gulf region.
“On a weekly basis, we receive communications from Saudi Arabia about Ugandans in distress. Some of them are in prison, others are physically and mentally ill and require urgent attention,” Bagiire said.
Bagiire, who, along with his technical staff, on Monday, 03 August 2026, appeared before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Hon. Grace Kwiyucwiny, called for an intensified sensitisation campaign to curb the surge in human trafficking cases.
This followed concerns by the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Representative, Hon. Robert Ssewagudde who asked for the ministry’s interventions to save Ugandan migrant workers from victimisation and distress.
“It is true we have done some sensitisation, but I must add that it is inadequate. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is the one responsible for the implementation of the anti-human trafficking law, and they have the duty and responsibility to do massive sensitisation to ensure Ugandans do not fall prey to these so-called lucrative opportunities, yet it is human trafficking,” Bagiire responded.
In Uganda, labour externalisation, which earns the country about US$2 billion in remittances is regulated by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which is charged with the responsibility of licensing labour export companies.
Bagiire said despite this, it is the Foreign Affairs Ministry that suffers the burden of repatriation of Ugandans facing harsh and exploitative working conditions and human trafficking, among others.
“There are some Ugandans who are arrested in Iraq. We reached out to the authorities and they are positive to release them. The challenge is the absence of resources to return them, as you know there is no allocation to repatriate them,” Bagiire said.
He added that , the curative measure is to sensitise Ugandans against travelling, especially to war-torn countries.
“It has been very challenging for us; recently, we repatriated hundreds of Ugandans from Myanmar. The Ethiopian Airways plane that returned 43 Ugandans also carried about 20 going to the same destination [Myanmar], he said adding that, ‘the most unfortunate thing is that it is Ugandans who are trafficking fellow Ugandans; some of them are known and have been arrested, but we shall intensify our campaign to stop these Ugandans from travelling’.
Members of Parliament appealed to government to prioritise safeguarding and protecting its national interests by minding the welfare of the citizens working abroad.
“One of the biggest challenges of Ugandans working abroad is their continued incarceration. We can’t continue reading the book of lamentation, we must be deliberate to protect our citizens because when you travel abroad, ambassadors are crying foul,” Hon. Gabriel Okumu (NRM, Okoro County) said.
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