The Regulatory Myth: Why Ugandan Migrant Workers Remain Vulnerable to Exploitation

By Kayonde Abdallah

For too long, Ugandan migrant workers have been promised protection and oversight by recruitment agencies that profit from their labour abroad. Yet, this assurance is nothing more than a regulatory myth, a cruel joke perpetuated by the very institutions meant to safeguard their rights. The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development’s claims that these agencies monitor and protect migrant workers ring hollow against the harsh reality of ongoing abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.

The truth is stark: entrusting recruitment agencies whose primary motive is profit with the welfare of migrant workers is like putting a fox in charge of the meat store. These agencies have a clear conflict of interest. How can they genuinely protect workers’ rights when those rights have already been compromised and sold for a commission? The system is rigged to prioritize financial gain over human dignity, leaving countless Ugandan workers vulnerable to forced labour and exploitation abroad.

This is not just a failure of enforcement but a systemic flaw embedded in the current regulatory framework. The Ministry of Gender must urgently revise existing regulations to dismantle this exploitative cycle. Crucially, Ugandan migrant workers must be recognized as active stakeholders in the process, not mere subjects whose futures are decided without their input or consent.

True reform demands transparency, accountability, and inclusion. It requires a shift from lip service to concrete action that empowers workers, protects their rights, and holds recruitment agencies accountable. Until then, the promise of protection remains a hollow slogan, and the exploitation of Ugandan migrant workers will continue unabated.

It’s time to stop the charade and build a system that truly serves those it claims to protect. The dignity and safety of Ugandan migrant workers depend on it.