Parliament has called on the government to deploy labour attachés in countries where Uganda has partnerships on labour externalisation to help protect migrant workers and address challenges faced by Ugandans working abroad.The call was made by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth during a House sitting on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, presented a statement concerning the alleged trafficking and detention of three Ugandan nationals in Thailand.The matter was raised by Soroti City Woman Representative Joan Alobo, who earlier expressed concern over the disappearance of Amon Kisaakye, David Musajja and Samuel Kusiima after they travelled to Thailand through a recruitment agency in search of employment opportunities.
Speaker Oboth said Uganda needs dedicated labour representatives abroad, similar to commercial and defence attachés, to monitor labour issues and support citizens working in foreign countries.He urged Parliament to strengthen funding for the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development so that it can establish labour attaché offices in key destination countries for Ugandan workers.“It should be in the interest of government to have representatives abroad from the Ministry of Gender because we have commercial and defence attachés handling other areas. We also need people specifically responsible for labour matters,” Oboth said.Minister Tumukunde told Parliament that investigations into the Thailand case revealed that the three Ugandans were victims of human trafficking. He said the recruitment company that facilitated their travel, Result Recruitment Company, was not licensed and was not registered under the ministry’s External Employment Management System.The minister explained that Uganda has previously received reports of citizens being trafficked to countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, through illegal recruitment channels.
Tumukunde said the government is working with the Uganda Police Force to crack down on unlicensed labour recruitment companies and increase public awareness about safe migration procedures for Ugandans seeking jobs abroad.Jonam County MP Alenyo Marshall supported the Speaker’s proposal, saying labour attachés would help track and protect Ugandans in foreign countries.Marshall compared the proposal to the deployment of immigration officers abroad, saying such representatives have improved access to government services and reduced complaints from Ugandans living outside the country.Workers’ Representative Rwakajara Arinaitwe said labour attachés would help verify job opportunities advertised by recruitment companies and prevent Ugandans from being deceived into accepting poor working conditions.He noted that many Ugandans travel abroad after being promised professional employment but later find themselves doing informal and less secure jobs.Rwakajara called for stronger coordination between the Ministry of Gender and other stakeholders to ensure labour externalisation is properly monitored.
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, urged the government to focus more on creating employment opportunities within Uganda to reduce the number of young people leaving the country in search of jobs abroad.Ssenyonyi warned that without enough local opportunities, many young Ugandans would continue taking risks through uncertain foreign employment arrangements.Several legislators also appealed to the government to support the return of Ugandans stranded abroad under difficult working conditions and ensure stronger protection for migrant workers.The debate highlighted growing concerns over labour trafficking, illegal recruitment agencies and the need for better systems to safeguard Ugandans seeking employment opportunities outside the country.
