By KT Reporter
Ugandans seeking employment abroad have been cautioned against using tours and travel companies, which officials say are increasingly engaging in illegal labour recruitment and exposing citizens to exploitation and human trafficking. Hillary Taremwa, the Head of External Employment at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, issued the warning while addressing journalists in Fort Portal this week.
He explained that although tours and travel companies are licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) to offer tourism-related services, many have overstepped their mandate and begun recruiting Ugandans for foreign jobs without authorization. Taremwa noted that this illegal practice has put thousands of desperate job seekers at risk. “Some tours and travel companies claim they are taking people for tourism, yet in reality, they are transporting them for employment. This is illegal. Only companies licensed by the Ministry of Gender are allowed to recruit Ugandans for work abroad,” he emphasized.
According to Taremwa, these companies have taken advantage of high youth unemployment to extort large sums of money from job seekers, promising quick overseas employment that often never materializes. Many victims end up stranded abroad without proper documentation, face exploitation, harsh working conditions, or fall prey to trafficking networks. He stressed that Ugandans who want to work overseas should use officially licensed labour externalization companies, which are regulated, monitored, and required to ensure workers’ safety and welfare.
Taremwa further warned job seekers against dealing with agents and middlemen, saying many operate illegally and mislead applicants by facilitating travel using tourist or visit visas rather than proper employment documentation. “Ensure that you travel with an employment visa and sign a legally binding contract before leaving Uganda. This protects you and makes it easier for the government to track and assist you in case of any problem,” he noted.
To curb the vice, the Ministry of Gender has established a Migration Workers Resource Center to provide accurate information on safe migration, procedures for labour externalization, rights of migrant workers, and reintegration support for returnees. Taremwa advised the public to verify the authenticity of any recruitment company by checking the ministry’s updated list of licensed firms.
Nancy Okwong, the Public Relations Officer at the Association of Uganda Tour Operators, clarified that association members are registered to provide tour and travel services, not labour recruitment. “According to our association’s code of conduct, it is against the law for a tour operator to take citizens out of the country for jobs,” she said. Okwong acknowledged reports of companies disguising themselves as tour operators when they are actually recruiting people for overseas employment. She said the association is working with UTB to identify and take action against such firms, including those offering services without UTB licenses.
Peter Baranga, the Executive Director of G7 Tours and Travel in Fort Portal, echoed these concerns. “Tour and travel companies are licensed only to offer tourism and travel services, not jobs. Any company that recruits people for work abroad is acting illegally,” he said. Baranga added that where incidents occur, blame should be placed on the specific company and not the entire sector.
According to the Ministry of Gender, between 2016 and June 2025, Uganda deployed 317,569 migrant workers through licensed companies. Females constitute the largest proportion, with most travelling to the Middle East as domestic workers. However, concerns persist over poor working conditions, unpaid salaries, abuse, and in some cases, inhumane treatment of Ugandan housemaids in some Gulf countries.
The warning follows a recent scandal involving Skypins Tours and Travel Company, which reportedly defrauded job seekers of over UGX 1.7 billion. In June, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango revealed that the company’s director, Chris Asiimwe, also known as Don Chris, conned more than 350 people after promising them jobs abroad but failing to deliver.
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