The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has agreed to pardon hundreds of Ugandan migrant workers stranded in deportation centers and prisons across the country.
This announcement was made by the Minister of State for Labour, Esther Anyakun, during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday.
According to the minister, she led a government delegation to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 14th to 17th, 2024. The ministerial and technical visit aimed to address several issues between Uganda and Saudi Arabia.
“The main objective of this visit was to monitor the welfare and document the working conditions of Ugandans living and working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said the minister.
She added, “In 2023, Uganda and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral labour agreement, which places responsibility on the host country to protect the rights of Ugandan workers.”
Many Ugandans have been languishing in prison centers across Saudi Arabia. The minister noted that, following the visit, all Ugandans with non-capital offenses will be repatriated within 60 days. However, those with capital offenses, such as murder and illegal drug possession, will not be released.
“The decision was made during a meeting between the Ugandan delegation, which I led, and the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Eng. Ahmed Alrajhi, during the visit,” she explained.
Saudi Arabia is the largest destination for Ugandan migrant workers, with over 150,000 Ugandans employed in the country. These workers contribute approximately $900 million annually to Uganda’s economy.
