Ugandan migrant workers who sought greener pastures abroad are now living in severe distress as a result of escalating labour externalization pressures. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Vincent Bagiire, stated that this pressure has exponentially 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 reported.
Appearing before the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Monday, August 3, 2026, alongside his technical staff, Bagiire called for an intensified national sensitization campaign to curb the growing surge in human trafficking. The committee session, chaired by Hon. Grace Kwiyucwiny, was prompted by concerns raised by the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Representative, Hon. Robert Ssewagudde, who demanded ministry interventions to save Ugandan migrant workers from victimization.
The Call for Massive Sensitization
While acknowledging that some efforts have been made, Bagiire stressed that they remain inadequate. He pointed out that the responsibility for enforcing the anti-human trafficking law lies elsewhere.
“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 externalization earns the country approximately US$2 billion in remittances annually. This sector is officially regulated by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which is charged with licensing labour export companies. Despite this framework, the Foreign Affairs Ministry often suffers the heavy logistical and financial burden of repatriating Ugandans who face harsh, exploitative working conditions.
Lack of Repatriation Resources
A significant challenge the government faces is the lack of dedicated resources for bringing stranded citizens home.
“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 explained. He added that the best curative measure is to sensitize Ugandans against traveling to volatile or war-torn countries.
The situation is incredibly complex, with some citizens returning to dangerous regions even after being rescued. Bagiire highlighted a recent operation where hundreds of Ugandans were repatriated from Myanmar. Shockingly, the same Ethiopian Airways flight that returned 43 rescued citizens also carried about 20 Ugandans heading to the exact same destination. He lamented that fellow Ugandans are often the ones trafficking their peers, though arrests are being made.
Members of Parliament forcefully appealed to the government to prioritize safeguarding its national interests by minding the welfare of 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,” stated Hon. Gabriel Okumu (NRM, Okoro County).
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