Leaders representing Ugandan migrant worker associations have launched a unified platform aimed at strengthening advocacy for safe, fair, and dignified labour migration, while combating trafficking and exploitation of workers abroad.
The leaders, drawn from over a dozen registered migrant-worker associations, met in Kampala to discuss collective strategies for improving the protection and welfare of Ugandans employed in foreign countries. The meeting concluded with a joint resolution to speak with one voice on issues of recruitment, workers’ rights, and reintegration support for returnees.
According to organisers, the platform seeks to close information gaps and create stronger engagement between migrant leaders, government agencies, and international partners. It will also focus on equipping prospective migrant workers with accurate guidance on safe recruitment, contracts, and working conditions.
Speaking during the forum, the leaders expressed concern over persistent cases of human trafficking, irregular recruitment, and abuse faced by some Ugandan workers in the Middle East and other destinations. They stressed the need for continuous awareness campaigns to ensure that migration decisions are well-informed and grounded in verified procedures.
The platform also committed to building stronger ties with diaspora communities to improve welfare coordination, ensure timely reporting of abuses, and facilitate the safe return of distressed workers. Plans are underway to develop a joint code of conduct for recruitment and advocacy partners to promote ethical labour migration practices.
In a unified statement, the leaders pledged to “stand as one voice for all Ugandan migrant workers” and to work with government institutions such as the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA), to strengthen accountability in the recruitment chain.
The meeting ended with renewed calls for collaboration among migrant associations, civil society, and private recruitment firms to create a migration system that prioritises safety, fairness, and dignity for every Ugandan worker abroad.