The Federation of All Uganda Migrant Workers Associations (Fauma) has petitioned the Government of Uganda over what it calls "rampant mistreatment, exploitation and abandonment" of Ugandan migrant workers both at home and abroad.
In a petition dated August 4 and formally received by the Office of the President and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development on September 30, Fauma accuses government of neglecting distressed workers stranded in host countries, failing to address growing cases of human trafficking, and ignoring surging numbers of deaths among Ugandans employed overseas.
The federation is demanding the establishment of a dedicated migrant workers' fund, a systematic monitoring framework, and comprehensive reintegration programmes for returnees.
It is also urging the government to set up legal teams at Ugandan embassies to secure justice for workers facing imprisonment or exploitation abroad.
"We continue to register cases of Ugandans tortured, forced into longer working hours, denied salaries, and prevented from returning home," the petition states.
"Many have died and been buried in host countries without accountability."
Fauma argues that Uganda's current framework, based on a series of regulations issued since 2005, is "grossly inadequate" to protect citizens seeking employment abroad.
The group highlights that several proposed labour externalisation bills dating back to 2019 have never been passed into law, leaving workers vulnerable.
According to the federation, trafficking in persons is "skyrocketing" both internally and externally, with victims ending up in countries including Egypt, Syria, Myanmar, Thailand, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and South Africa.
Many, it says, are stranded in foreign prisons without legal assistance.
"Ugandan migrant workers are facing rampant torture, delayed salaries, confiscation of documents, and discrimination. They are imprisoned on fake charges with no legal redress, while their families at home remain in the dark," Fauma warned.
The federation also pointed to reputational damage, saying that continued exploitation abroad has reduced the global demand for Ugandan labour and harmed the country's image internationally.
In its petition, Fauma listed 11 key actions it wants implemented, among them:
- A clear update on progress towards a comprehensive labour externalisation law.
- Immediate repatriation and clearance of stranded and imprisoned workers abroad.
- Comprehensive training and pre-departure orientation for all migrants.
- Establishment of migrant workers' offices at Ugandan embassies, staffed with labour attachés and legal experts.
- Operationalisation of pending bilateral labour agreements with Qatar, Jordan and the UAE, and expansion of such agreements to Europe and the Americas.
- An effective reintegration scheme for returnees and inclusion of Fauma in policymaking.
- A nationwide campaign on safe and humane labour migration to combat trafficking.
Depicting a growing crisis, Fauma noted that Uganda is one of the largest labour-exporting countries in Africa, with thousands of young men and women leaving each year for jobs in the Middle East, Asia and beyond.
While remittances contribute significantly to the national economy, reports of abuse have mounted over the years.
Civil society organisations and rights groups have long criticised the government for prioritising remittance income over the safety of its citizens.
In recent months, several families have gone public about relatives who died in mysterious circumstances abroad, with little information returned to them.
There had been no official response from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development or the Office of the President by press time.
FAUMA insists that urgent dialogue is needed. "The strategies we propose will not only protect Ugandan migrant workers but also promote national and international cooperation," the petition concludes.