Uganda is stepping up efforts to formalise labour migration as a key employment and foreign exchange strategy, with the launch of a nationwide Safe Labour Migration Awareness Campaign aimed at protecting workers while sustaining remittance inflows.
The campaign, unveiled on February 5 by Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations Esther Anyakun Davinia, comes against the backdrop of mounting labour market pressure.
Each year, between 600,000 and 700,000 Ugandans enter the workforce, more than 95% of them youths, far outpacing the growth of domestic job opportunities.
To address this gap, government has since 2005 implemented the Externalisation of Labour Programme, creating regulated pathways for Ugandans seeking work abroad while easing unemployment at home. The programme is governed by the Employment Act and the Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan Migrant Workers) Regulations, 2021, and currently operates through 246 licensed recruitment companies, alongside individual-led job sourcing.
Labour exports have delivered tangible economic benefits. Between 2016 and 2024, the programme facilitated at least 280,000 overseas jobs, many paying wages of UGX 900,000 and above.
Remittances reached about USD 1.3 billion last year, providing a critical source of foreign exchange and household income support. Government has also collected UGX 34.2 billion in non-tax revenue since late 2021 from licensing, job attestations and training accreditation fees.
Most Ugandan migrant workers are deployed to Middle Eastern markets including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. However, weak oversight in destination countries, illegal recruitment and misinformation have exposed workers to exploitation and trafficking risks, prompting tighter monitoring and public sensitisation.
Under the regulatory framework, migrant workers must travel on employment visas, sign contracts guaranteeing wages, medical cover, compensation and repatriation rights, and undergo mandatory pre-departure training. Monitoring is supported through embassy reporting, a dedicated call centre, four-party employment contracts and a Migrant Worker Resource Centre at the ministry.
The Safe Labour Migration Awareness Campaign, themed “Travel Safe. Stay Safe.”, seeks to restore confidence in the labour export framework by promoting licensed recruiters, verified job orders and official complaint channels.
Government says improved awareness is critical to sustaining labour migration as a credible employment policy tool while safeguarding Uganda’s human capital abroad.