Government Intensifies Campaign on Safe External Labour Migration

The government has stepped up its nationwide campaign to promote safe and regulated external labour migration as part of its efforts to create jobs for Ugandans. 

Milton Turyasiima, the Assistant Commissioner for Employment Services at the Ministry of Labour, Gender, and Social Development, said that Uganda’s labour market continues to face pressure, with about 700,000 people entering the workforce annually against limited job creation.

Turyasiima emphasized that the government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, is intensifying awareness efforts to ensure the public understands the risks of irregular migration and the benefits of using licensed recruitment systems.

Currently, there are a total of 274 recruitment companies licensed to conduct recruitment and placement of Ugandans outside Uganda.

However, Turyasiima said the government has established strict measures to ensure that contracts signed by Ugandans seeking jobs abroad meet international labour standards, including guaranteed wages, regulated working hours, medical care, and fair termination procedures.

He cautioned the public against dealing with unlicensed agents and tour and travel companies, noting that individuals and unlicensed companies are not permitted to recruit workers for jobs abroad.


Speaking at a media briefing in Gulu City on Thursday, Turyasiima said that many Ugandans are falling victim to fraudsters due to failure to use official channels when seeking jobs abroad.

Turysiima warned Ugandans against being offered jobs using tourist or visit visas, arguing that those seeking jobs abroad should only do so once they acquire an employment visa.

He, however, warned migrant workers against breaching contracts while abroad, noting that doing so exposes them to serious risks, including loss of legal protection.

According to the government data, the country’s unemployment rate stands at 12 percent, with women more affected at 13 percent compared to 10 percent for men.

In the Acholi sub-region, youth unemployment is even higher at 13.6 percent, while the national youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) stands at 17.9 percent according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

To curb exploitation, Turyasiima said the government has introduced a 24-hour toll-free helpline and an online External Employment Management Information System (EEMIS) where job seekers can verify licensed companies and available job opportunities.

According to the Gender Ministry records, the majority of Ugandan migrant workers are employed in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

At the press briefing, Turyasiima also weighed in on the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026, saying it may not significantly change the current labour migration framework.

“I don’t think it is adding anything new because most of the issues being raised are already catered for within the existing frameworks,” he said, citing policies such as the National Employment Policy 2011, the Employment Act, and the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act.

He added that Uganda already has a robust legal and regulatory structure governing labour migration, including updated labour regulations introduced in 2021. 

The government’s push for safe external labour migration comes amid debate over the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, which seeks to regulate foreign influence through stricter controls on foreign funding, mandatory registration of foreign agents, and penalties for individuals or entities deemed to act against national interests.

However, some stakeholders have criticised the proposed law, arguing that it could affect economic recovery, particularly in the Acholi sub-region.

Earlier this week, civil society actors in the Acholi sub-region called on legislators to review the bill, arguing that Uganda’s sovereignty is already adequately protected under the Constitution.