Kampala: The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth, has called for the deployment of labour attach©s in countries partnering with Uganda on labour externalisation. This proposal came in response to a statement presented by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, regarding the alleged trafficking and detention of three Ugandans in Thailand.

According to African Press Organization, the minister's statement was prompted by concerns raised by Soroti City Woman Representative, Hon. Joan Alobo, about Amon Kisaakye, David Musajja, and Samuel Kusiima, who traveled to Thailand through a labour recruitment agency but later lost contact with their families. The Speaker emphasized the need to enhance the Ministry of Gender's budget to assign labour attach©s abroad to protect Ugandan workers.

Gen. Tumukunde highlighted that the issue involving the three Ugandans was due to trafficking, noting that the agency involved, Result Recruitment Company, was unlicensed and absent from the ministry's External Employment Management System database. He mentioned ongoing operations with the Uganda Police Force to address non-licensed recruitment companies and media campaigns to promote safe labour migration.

Jonam County MP, Hon. Alenyo Marshall, supported the Speaker's proposal, referencing a successful initiative by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to assign immigration officers abroad. Hon. Rwakajara Arinaitwe, a Workers Representative, added that labour attach©s could monitor job legitimacy offered by externalisation companies, pointing out that many Ugandans are misled into informal jobs abroad.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, urged the government to focus on job creation within Uganda to reduce youth migration for work. Legislators further called for government support in repatriating Ugandans stranded in harsh working conditions abroad.