By Our Reporter,
NATIONAL
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has said that over 75000 Ugandans are staying in the United Arab Emirates illegally.
“There are over 100,000 Ugandans living in UAE and of these, only 24,400 were taken there through licensed recruitment agencies while over 75,000 Ugandans who were taken to UAE to secure employment went through fraudulent companies that are only looking for money or went on their own. These are in UAE fraudulently and illegally,” the ministry spokesperson, Simon Mundeyi said.
He added that many of the latter are found on the wrong side of the law in UAE for not having updated work visas.
“Majority travel on their own accord and decide to look for odd jobs whereas others were trafficked by unscrupulous labor agents who promise them good jobs only to reach there and engaged in odd jobs without work visas. Their passports are retained and subjected to abuse due to circumstances beyond their control.”
“Once they reach UAE they report to their agents who keep them in some dormitories or hostels also known as Biyumba. Once they start living there, agents start taking them out to do some odd jobs including prostitution, and money that accrues is paid to agents.”
The ministry has disclosed that the government of Uganda through the ministries of gender, finance, internal and foreign affairs negotiated with the UAE government which accepted to issue a waiver to 1,500 Ugandan immigrants who were living in the country illegally.
“The over 160 who returned over the weekend are part of 1500 who are set to benefit from the waiver.”
According to Mundeyi, if any foreigner is found illegally in any country, they are fined before being deported.
“There are those who are still staying illegally in UAE but once the grace period of one month elapses after October, they will be fined and later returned home.”
He however, urged all Ugandans who hope to work in the Middle East to go through licensed labour recruitment companies to avoid any inconveniences.
