A National Resistance Movement Legislator from Fort Portal City is tasking the government to curb the number of women leaving Uganda for work in the Middle East.
According to Alex Ruhunda , Fort Portal Central MP, the outflow especially within Central region is causing a social crisis, leaving the country “empty” and young men struggling to find legal bonkmates.
Speaking during the Budget Committee’s consideration of the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper for the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Ruhunda voiced his concerns.
“There is a growing exodus of our girls, especially here in the Buganda region, to the Middle East. Young men are finding it very difficult to marry because most women are being taken out. Should we really allow this to continue just because there is demand?” he questioned
He urged the government to implement mechanisms to regulate this migration, cautioning against the social problems that could arise if the trend continues unchecked. Ruhunda’s comments sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding his stand on social stability while others deemed his remarks controversial.
Between 2018 and 2022, Uganda officially deployed 227,457 migrant workers abroad, predominantly to Middle Eastern countries. The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development’s data indicates that a significant portion of these migrants are women employed as domestic workers. Other roles include cleaners and security personnel in nations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
Between 2016 and early 2019, there were 17,597 female migrant domestic workers from Uganda in the Middle East.
Between 2018 and 2022, Uganda officially deployed 227,457 migrant workers abroad, predominantly to Middle Eastern countries. The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development’s data indicates that a significant portion of these migrants are women employed as domestic workers. Other roles include cleaners and security personnel in nations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
A 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Labor highlighted that many Ugandan migrants in the Middle East face challenging labor conditions, with instances of forced labor and human trafficking being reported.
In June 2024, the MGLSD, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), organized the 3rd National Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on Labour Migration. The meeting focused on improving coordination among government bodies, employers, recruitment agencies, and trade unions to strengthen Uganda’s labour migration governance.
The government has implemented measures to protect Ugandans working abroad, including the development of pre-departure orientation and training programs. Only companies accredited by a Ugandan mission abroad are authorized to recruit domestic workers, and a four-party employment contract holds recruitment companies in Uganda and recipient countries jointly liable.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist, such as the exploitation of Ugandan women in countries like Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that many Ugandan women face ill-treatment and abuse while working as domestic workers in the Middle East.
