In a bold move to enhance the safety and traceability of Ugandan migrant workers, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) has begun setting up a centralised database.
This initiative is aimed at curbing abuse and improving the monitoring of externalised labour, especially in the Middle East.
Uganda has seen a sharp rise in labour migration in recent years. According to the Committee on Gender’s latest report on the Ministry’s 2025/2026 policy statement, over 165,000 Ugandans are currently working abroad, primarily in the Middle East.
Hon. Agnes Kunihira, chairperson of the Gender Committee, presented the report before Parliament on April 10. The document highlights the urgent need to protect workers from abuse and exploitation, calling for immediate government action to back the initiative.
Database Faces Budget Hurdles
While the database is already under development, Hon. Hellen Asamo, the State Minister for Gender (Disability Affairs), stressed that funding remains a challenge.
“We did not get the money to continue with the process in this financial year,” she told Parliament. “We pray that it is provided in the upcoming budget.”
Asamo also flagged the difficulty of tracking migrants who leave Uganda through unofficial routes, including porous borders in Busia, Bugisu, and Karamoja.
“Others overstay their contracts and disappear from the system. We can’t trace them unless they return and reapply,” she added.
Migrants Face Abuse, Family Left in Limbo
The committee’s report underscores the growing number of Ugandan workers facing abuse, particularly in the Middle East. It also warns of the dangers of illegal recruitment, which exposes migrants to trafficking and exploitation.
In a heartbreaking case, Hon. Noeline Kisembo (Kibaale District) brought up the death of Teddy Namata, a domestic worker who died in Saudi Arabia in 2022.
“Her family is struggling to repatriate her body. The company that sent her abroad has since shut down,” Kisembo said, requesting the establishment of a Migrant Worker Support Fund.
Calls for Policy Reform and Minimum Wage Negotiations
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged the Ministry to negotiate better pay packages for Ugandan migrant workers.
“In Dubai, many Ugandans told me they earn less than Kenyans because our government doesn’t negotiate for them,” Tayebwa said.
He also pointed out that Uganda is missing out on international job opportunities reserved for African countries due to lack of proactive lobbying.
Meanwhile, Hon. John Faith Magolo (Bungokho County North) called for a comprehensive national diaspora policy to track migrants and record remittances.
A Step Toward Safer Migration
If fully implemented and funded, the centralised migrant worker database will be a game-changer for Uganda’s labour export sector. It promises to track migrant movements, ensure follow-ups on abuse complaints, and support reintegration for returnees.
Already, the Ministry has launched a complaints center and staffed it with officers dedicated to listening to and resolving migrant issues.
This effort, backed by Parliament, represents Uganda’s growing commitment to protecting its workers abroad while ensuring they contribute safely and effectively to the nation’s economy.
