KAMPALA, UGANDA: Government through the Ministry of Gender & Labour has revealed that a total of 452 Ugandans are to be deported from Dubai and other cities in the United Arab Emirates.
The development comes after recent media reports indicating that a majority of Ugandans (mostly females) who flew to the middle east especially in Dubai, UAE in search for work abroad are currently stranded and sleeping on the streets.
The Minister for Gender Ms. Betty Amongi while speaking to journalists on Thursday, revealed that following these reports, the ministry took up the matter to ascertain the authenticity of the reports.
“Some of the cases have turned out to be pranks. The majority of the genuine cases have been victims of human trafficking or individuals who travelled on their own and have overstayed their tourist or visit visas,” Amongi said.
Amongi said that an August 2022 report by the Ugandan Mission in Abu Dhabi indicates that many Ugandans illegally staying in UAE have been living on the streets.
“The report indicates that in early August, 2022, the authorities of UAE offered free tickets to all illegal immigrants. As a result , many illegal migrant workers have reported to Al Awir Immigration Centre for assessment and eventual repatriation to Uganda.”
She further revealed that none of the 452 Ugandans who have reported to the immigration centre at Al Awir had gone to UAE through recruitment companies but rather on their own.
Amongi therefore urged Ugandans to make use of recruitment companies since they can easily seek redress in case of any problems to them while at work in UAE or anywhere abroad.
According to statistics from the Gender and Labour Ministry, over 200,000 Ugandans are currently employed in the Middle East with the majority in Saudi Arabia (156,281) while UAE has 20486 and Qatar 10203 among others.
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