By Nasser Kasozi
Ugandans were shocked to learn that 23 youth who had left for greener pastures in the Middle East had been returned to the country in a vegetative state.
Among the returnees, Betty Bakireke Nambooze cited the case of a one Doreen Magezi a native of Namanve who made efforts to reach her while in Jordan.
Not taking chances for granted, indicted firms through Uganda Association for External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA) immediately fired back calling it a smear campaign riddled with political connotations.
However in a sudden development, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanya the deputy speaker of parliament has fixed next week as the date to debate labor export related complaints.
“This time the minister must come with a ministerial statement which will attract debate and we have a
comprehensive engagement on this matter”, Oulanya rules.
Oulanya says it is high time; the minister in charge of gender and labor desegregates related issues and gives accountability of labour export companies that have since been closed.
His response was prompted by a matter of national importance raised by Hon. Betty Nambooze. Speaking on the floor of parliament today, Nambooze said as of now 53 girls are stranded in Dubai.
“These girls sent out a distressed call to me yesterday that they ran from their masters in various homes because of mistreatment”, she explains.
Despite living in unbearable conditions, Nambooze says chances of returning remain oblivious largely because they do not have the 1.5 million required to process their travel documents.
The above mentioned girls are said to have been told to compensate their masters for costs incurred in the course of employing them.
Fast forward, Nambooze wants government to reign in on exporting agencies who she says behave as if they are above the law nowadays.
Also, she wants asylum centers opened to aid distressed citizens seek refuge.
In her response, Mary Karooro Okurut the Minister of general duties asked to respond quantitatively next week.
Fast forward, she proposes that a government agency be formulated to enable safe and sound labour exchanges but also existing private firms be investigated.
Among those who have escaped from employers in the latest escapade include; namely, Namugga Sauwuya, Kayaga Aisha from Makindye and Kyomugasho Rose a native of Entebbe.
Conclusively, she says 151 are licensed to export labour while 50 girls are exported daily roughly.
