The MPs demands are following the reports they got from the Ugandan mission at Abu Dhabi indicating that 48 Ugandan workers died in Arab countries after being subjected to inhuman treatment and their bodies were not returned.

Among the 48 dead ugandans ,35 were women and 13 men and most of them killed themselves by suicide after they became tired of mistreatment

Uganda has only   signed bilateral agreement for its labour export with Saud Arabia and Jordan among Arab countries and had promised to sign with others bilateral agreements in phases though the country exports each about 65000 workers.

Addressing a news conference at parliament on their return from middle East countries the youth member of parliament for western Uganda Mpaka Mwine and Ngora county mp David Abaala said that when Ugandans are taken to Arab countries for work their travel documents are removed from form them and when they meet death, its difficult to trace where they came from hence burying them in deserts of Arab countries.

The MPs want the ministry of gender to sign agreements with the countries where Ugandans are exported to minimize on the mistreatment they face from their employers who subject them to harsh conditions which in turn force them to committee suicide.

The MPS also demand government to investigate into reports that some immigration officers are bribed and accept some workers to exit the country illegally to Arab countries where they face difficult time with their employers.

They said that if the ministry of gender ,labour and social Development fails to sign bilateral agreements with other countries where Ugandans interested for jobs they will move a motion  banning externalization of labour .

Mps asked government to set up a recue fund that will enable uganda missions abroad have home to keep the mistreated and rehabilitate ugandans

Among the countries where the 48 Ugandans died include Dubai ,AbuDhabi,Oman ,Bahran and Kuwait  .

According to Uganda investment Authority report Uganda has 400,000 young people entering the Uganda’s job market and the country can only employ less than a half of them

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Margaret Komuhangi (Right) together with the Leader of Opposition , FDC’s Winnie Kizza.

Workers MP, Rwakajara Arinaitwe said that artists and negative forces which are against redevelopment of the national theater are giving out wrong information to public when they know that the land was not sold but it is for redevelopment.
He said that the ministry of Gender should take charge of both the national theater and Nomo gallery redevelopment despite of criticism from negative forces.

Appearing before the Committee chaired by Margaret Komuhangi ,the executive director Uganda National Cultural Center, Peter Francis Ojede  and minister of state for Gender Peace Mutuuzo told the committee that national theater land was not sold ,adding that the old nation theater will  be preserved in the new proposed redevelopment.

Ojede said that they have not known the re-developer of the national theater and will be known in December this year.

The Minister of State for Gender, Peace Mutuuzo also rejected claims that parliament wants to hijack national theatre to use it for some of its work, saying that after redevelopment of national theater land will house the ministry of gender and stop renting.

She said that nothing will deter the government to redevelop national theater land and pledged that government is in process of constructing more theater at regional level.

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Government had earlier this year imposed a temporary ban on Ugandans leaving the Country to seek employment abroad especially Saudi Arabia sighting reports of harassment by employers in those Countries.

The MPs however, say before investigations on the allegations can be concluded, these firms have continued to break the law with the advertisements and recruitment of Ugandans in total disregard of the law.

Rose Mutonyi Masaba the Committee Chairperson on Foreign Affairs.

Rose Mutonyi Masaba, the Committee Chairperson said was to their surprise that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has failed to react to these adverts of which they say are misleading Ugandans hunting for jobs.

It is against this background that the committee resolved to summon officials from Ministry of Gender to appear before them next week and explain a number of issues surrounding this matter, adding that many desperate Ugandans are hunting for risky jobs abroad and need help.

Mutonyi said the Committee also plans to summon the agencies that claim to be having licenses to explain how they follow-up Ugandans they send abroad for work because several rumors have come up about on the mistreatment of these workers and the companies that take them never come out to explain.

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As a way of drumming up support for the event, the Uganda Tourism Board late last week organised the Uganda international cultural fair Schools’ cultural quiz media briefing that saw schools participating in showing case diverse cultures. The school included, the Turkish light academy,Gallaxy international school  and Kitante Primary School.

The Uganda International Cultural Fair is being organized by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development together with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in conjunction with Perfect Events aims at establishing a platform where both Ugandan and International communities celebrate their diverse cultural heritage and allow visitors an opportunity to display their cultures local and international, corporate and informal as well as historical/traditional cultures.

Under the theme: “Appreciating who we are: Celebrating Cultural Diversity”, this fair will also help to establish relationships with people from different cultural heritages across the globe and support creating an enabling environment in which people can work together to build strong socio economic base of Uganda hence feeding into the vision 2040 of prosperous nation, according to the organisers.

They say Uganda is composed of a diverse and rich cultural heritage expressed in arts and performances, social norms, languages, marriage ceremonies, indigenous knowledge systems of nature and environment, music and dances. The cultural heritage comprises of both tangible and intangible that are enshrined in our lives, inherited, recreated that has evolved over time.

A poster advertising the event.

 “Culture is a strong part of people’s lives, it influences their views, values, humor, hopes, loyalties. Culture provides a sense of identity, social cohesion, self-esteem and continuity of humanity. The diverse cultural heritages are interconnected to one another and therefore the boundaries of ethnic cultures are fluid, they are not pure,” adding that,   “We celebrate the diverse cultures for promoting unified nation in order to build strong pillars of foundation for our young generation and enhancing relationships with one another in order to have an understanding of their cultures for wealth creation and unity,” the notice reads in part.

The ministry of gender together with the other partners have hence called on the public to support the event in big numbers. The say the fair shall offer a sandwich of formal sessions and dialogues on culture, social exhibition of culture. The exhibition will include physical display of what different groups identify themselves with ranging from dressing (Fashion), art and craft, music, dance, drama, poetry, diverse cuisine, wine testing, local brew, historical traditional tales and legends, acrobatics, magic shows among other things in their individual exhibition booths. National Kingdoms, cultural clusters and the international community will be invited to showcase their cultures.

Schools are invited to offer an opportunity to the young generation to learn about the different cultures both local and international and be inspired. Schools will also be a major focus for creating a tourism culture amongst the Ugandan community since behavioral change is more effective amongst the very young as compared to adults.

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Photo: Able Child Africa

As the numbers of persons with disability continue to rise globally, Uganda society for disabled children (USDC), an organization that helps disabled children in the country, is asking government and other stake holders to put in more resources to address the situation. Uganda society for disabled children program officer Geoffrey Katende says that much as the organization in conjunction with other various government departments and other civil society organizations are offering services to the disabled people especially children, a lot more needs to be done to reach the soaring numbers.

Uganda society for disabled children in its drive to help children with disabilities has donated wheel chairs in the districts of Masaka, Iganga and Amudat. However Katende says they need more funds to reach many disabled children in various parts of the country. Katende further says that a national action plan supported by UNICEF and together with the Ministry of gender and other stakeholders is being discussed and this will help them to come up with concrete solutions to help people with disabilities in the country.

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