A report from The Monitor, a Ugandan news publication, indicated that Uganda earned $6.49 million from its labor export between January 2022 and December 2023. The revenue primarily derived from expression of interest fees, fines, accreditations, local and foreign job orders, and license fees.
Local job orders yielded Shs324 million, while foreign job orders contributed Shs24.1 billion to the government during the review period. In 2022, over 60% of the Shs24.5 billion revenue was generated, with Uganda earning Shs17 billion, compared to Shs7 billion in 2023 due to delays in renewing an agreement with Saudi Arabia.
According to the data, 390 licensed companies paid Shs2 million each, totaling $780 million. The government earned Shs21 million from accreditation, Shs58.8 million from expression of interest fees, and Shs72 million from fines.
Saudi Arabia was the top importer of Ugandan labor, employing 89.1% (107,448) of Ugandan migrant workers. Other destinations included Qatar with 5.05% (6,086 workers), UAE with 4,457 workers, Somalia with 1,108 workers, Iraq with 1,081 workers, Kuwait with 262 workers, and Bahrain with 6 workers. Common job roles among these migrants included house help, security guards, drivers, cleaners, waiters, and waitresses.
Of the 120,459 Ugandan laborers who left the country for employment, 77.5% (109,773) were women, while 22.5% (10,686) were men. With a population of around 45 million, labor exportation remains a significant source of employment in Uganda, aiding in reducing the country’s unemployment rate.
Source: Businessinsider