Ugandan women work in the Middle East even though they face abuse. They told us why

What the report says

The Conversation Africa reports that labour migration from Uganda to the Middle East has grown sharply since the early 2000s, with many young women taking domestic work in countries including Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The article notes that researchers, journalists and rights bodies such as Human Rights Watch and the International Labour Organisation have documented abuse of Ugandan migrant domestic workers, including violence, sexual and psychological mistreatment, and limits on movement.

The authors, social scientists studying gender relations in Uganda, say they interviewed Ugandan women who had worked in the region between 2018 and 2022 to understand why migration continues despite well-known risks. Their findings suggest women often viewed overseas domestic work not only as hardship, but also as a possible route to savings, independence and social standing. Some described severe confinement and humiliation, while also speaking about the chance to “become somebody” through income earned abroad.

The article links these choices to economic pressure and shifting family structures in Uganda. It says some women connected migration to men’s inability or unwillingness to act as providers, and saw earning abroad as a way to make decisions for themselves and their children. The authors also cite changing marriage and cohabitation patterns and the importance of women “fathering a home” by building and supporting households.

The report says Uganda has tried to regulate recruiters and pursue bilateral labour arrangements, but with limited results. It argues that protecting migrant workers requires reforms abroad and better opportunities at home, while also recognising women migrants as active decision-makers navigating unequal labour systems.