Government must deliberately plan for its people

What the report says

In an opinion piece published by The Observer, a Ugandan writer argues that President Yoweri Museveni’s government should take a more active role in helping citizens access legitimate jobs abroad, rather than leaving international recruitment mainly to private intermediaries. The article says the author met a senior government official in Kampala after arranging a discussion months in advance to press for a coordinated strategy focused on employment opportunities beyond the Middle East.

The piece says Uganda has a young population and a weak domestic job market, which has pushed many people to seek work overseas. It points to the Middle East as a major destination for Ugandan workers, while also noting concerns such as exploitation, fraudulent recruiters and other harms reported by migrant families. As context, the author compares Uganda with countries such as Kenya and Rwanda, which are described as having used state institutions, diplomacy and training systems to connect citizens to jobs and skills opportunities abroad.

The writer proposes that Ugandan embassies, alongside the ministries responsible for labour and foreign affairs, help identify shortages in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, construction, agriculture and elderly care, and support training that meets foreign employer requirements. The argument is that government should regulate recruitment, open more lawful pathways and protect workers, while private firms continue to play a role. The article says no immediate action followed the meeting, and that the author was still following up four years later.