What's Hot

    Acasia Ventures invests in Nigerian delivery platform Fez

    March 31, 2023

    DP World to develop edible oil terminal in Berbera Port

    March 30, 2023

    HouseAfrica raises USD 400,000 in funding

    March 29, 2023
    Gulf Africa ReviewGulf Africa Review
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
      1. Airport
      2. Hospitality
      3. Ports
      4. Power
      5. Rail
      6. Roads
      7. Transport
      Featured

      Osun seeks to capitalise on infrastructure momentum

      Infrastructure May 21, 2018
      Recent

      DP World to develop edible oil terminal in Berbera Port

      March 30, 2023

      KarmSolar receives USD 3 million to develop Farafra Solar Grid

      January 11, 2023

      AD Ports Group reports strong growth

      January 3, 2023
    • Business & Trade
      1. Agri-Business
      2. Entrepreneurship
      3. FDI
      4. Legislative
      5. MEA
      6. Telecoms
      7. Properties
      Featured

      Analysts predict bullish future for Nigeria’s REITs market

      Business Business & Trade January 21, 2018
      Recent

      Free trade: Qatar and Morocco conclude second round of talks

      January 31, 2023

      Gold-for-oil: Ghana attempts to address forex pressures

      January 18, 2023

      AD Ports Group reports strong growth

      January 3, 2023
    • Finance
      1. Banking
      2. Islamic finance
      Featured

      South Africa’s Fin acquires Thuthukani

      Banking Business Finance March 24, 2023
      Recent

      South Africa’s Fin acquires Thuthukani

      March 24, 2023

      Fintech dominates African startup funding

      February 15, 2023

      Social investment platform InvestSky raises USD 3.4 million

      January 12, 2023
    • Innovation
    Gulf Africa ReviewGulf Africa Review
    Culture & Society

    Ugandan parliament bans the transit of workers to Arab countries

    Uganda’s legislature reacts angrily to plans for the export of Ugandan workers to Saudi Arabia, citing horror stories and mistrust
    January 11, 20153 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Uganda’s parliament has endorsed a motion to ban the travel of domestic workers to Arab countries following a heated debate in which legislators criticised the government for encouraging foreign companies to export young girls for work as domestic workers.

    The revelation comes just months after Saudi Arabia’s Manpower Solutions Company partnered with Uganda’s HAM Property Services to bring some two million Ugandans into the country for employment on two-year contracts as drivers, housemaids and nurses.

    The ban stands on “all labour exportations … until the ministry comes up with very clear guidelines of how these people are exported.

    However, Margaret Kyomuhangi, a lawmaker from the ruling National Resistance Movement, reported being told of ‘horrible stories’ by Ugandan officials in Arab countries, and asserted that her countrymen have faced exploitation, racial discrimination and violence.

    She then called on the house to seize the opportunity to ban the exportation of Ugandan maids to Arab countries to rapturous applause.

    The motion followed a speech read out to the parliament by Minister Suleiman Madada on behalf of Rukia Isanga Nakadama, Minister for Labour, Gender and Social Development. Related article SSA Investments signs MoU with Ugandan trade minister for cotton revival

    Turkish-based SSA Investments has signed and memorandum with Uganda in a bid to revive the country’s cotton business.

    Minister Madada had assured the house that in the deal with Manpower, the government had agreed to send two officials – one male and one female – to receive and handle complaints from Ugandan workers in Saudi Arabia and ensure standards were complied with.

    “This is why we want to experiment with Saudi Manpower Solutions Company,” he said.

    Ugandan agency partners in Saudi to employ two million people

    But opposition lawmaker Betty Nambooze dismissed the minister’s proposal and initiated a motion on what she described as a “matter of urgent importance.”

    She moved that the house resolve to impose an absolute ban on “all labour exportations, especially of maids, until the ministry comes up with very clear guidelines of how these people are exported.”

    The commercial profiteering involved in the labour trade and illegal practices such as the confiscation of passports were cited as two of the most prevalent abuses.

    Concerns against the export of Ugandan girls to work as housemaids in the Middle East date back to in 2009, when 148 girls were taken to Iraq. They subsequently lodged complaints with the gender ministry citing working without pay or contracts, long hours and other abuses.

    Since then, gender ministry figures indicate that 90 Ugandans, including 73 females, have been trafficked to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Asia for work.

    The motion for a total ban was passed with a majority of votes.

    arab countries Asia Bahrain HAM Property Services Kuwait Manpower Solution Company Middle East Africa National Resistance Movement saudi arabia travel ban Uganda United Arab Emirates
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleSaahtain Foods delivers halal food aid to West Africa
    Next Article Tanzania diplomat calls for UAE consulate in Zanzibar

    Related Posts

    Business Startups

    COFE raises USD 15 million Series B round

    March 15, 2023
    Business Startups

    Kuwait’s Baims closes USD 4 million Series A round

    March 9, 2023
    Business Startups

    Flat6Labs launches USD 20 million Saudi seed fund

    February 14, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    LATEST STORIES

    Acasia Ventures invests in Nigerian delivery platform Fez

    March 31, 2023

    DP World to develop edible oil terminal in Berbera Port

    March 30, 2023

    HouseAfrica raises USD 400,000 in funding

    March 29, 2023

    Kenyan VC firm Factor[e] Ventures launches venture studio

    March 28, 2023

    Tibu Health closes oversubscribed pre-Series A round

    March 27, 2023
    • Business
      • Agri-Business
      • Entrepreneurship
      • FDI
      • Legislative
      • MEA
      • Properties
      • Telecoms
    • Infrastructure
      • Airport
      • Hospitality
      • Ports
      • Power
      • Rail
      • Roads
      • Transport
    • Finance
      • Banking
      • Islamic finance
    • Commodities
      • Agri commodities
      • Metals & minerals
      • Precious metals
    • Culture & Society
      • Education
      • Energy
    GAR logo
    © GulfAfricaReview.com 2014-2022, All Rights Reserved.

    Gulf Africa Review is a trade news and future networking platform for businesses leaders and trade organisations, established to first inform and secondly assist in facilitating the ongoing business and trade relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to provide an apolitical voice for this channel of economic activity in a way that benefits both geographies by improving the availability of information about market events, developments and opportunities, while publicising the successes achieved by this ever-broadening regional relationship.

      Subscribe to our newsletter

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.