The Uganda Human Rights Commission has finally spoken out on the escalating cases of suffering Ugandans in Middle East Countries.
For more than ten years now, Ugandan migrant workers especially housemaids have suffered in the hands of tyrant employers in Middle East Countries, where they are exported for labour.
Activists have on several occasions called upon government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to come out and save the suffering Ugandans.
Speaking to reporters during the media round table on covid-19 and human rights, Ruth Ssekindi, the Director of Monitoring and Inspection at UHRC said that their hands are currently tied since their jurisdiction stops in Uganda.
“Most of these cases happen in those countries yet our jurisdiction ends in Uganda. As a Commission we have on several occasions called upon the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) to open up labour Consular in all embassies in those countries,” she said adding,
“It’s these Consulars that will ensure that our sons and daughters are safe. But write an annual report, present them to Parliament which should debate them, summon Ministers who are supposed to take action,”
According to Sekindi, the issue of Human Rights is a collaborative effort which requires everyone’s input.
“We come in regulating, giving advise while giving a leadership role,” she said Recent Statistics from the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA) indicate that 200,233 were working in Middle East Countries in 2021, indicating an increment from 90,8000 in 2010.
Cabinet recently considered banning the entire issue of labour externalization due to persistent cries.
