By Samuel Opio
The Vice president of the republic of Uganda HE Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi on Thursday flagged off more than 100 workers through Middle East Consultancy limited in Muyenga, Kampala to go and work from foreign countries such as Sauda Arabia, Jordan, Qatar among others as part of the efforts in combating youth unemployment.
Middle East consultancy, a labour export Agency has so far connected more than twelve thousand (12000) Ugandan youth into gainful job opportunities abroad in a span of 15 years since its inception.
Officiating at the send-off ceremony yesterday, the vice president H.E Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi praised Middle East for their commitment and courage to create employment opportunities to Ugandans and called upon all Ugandans to always treasure such opportunities and work hard to better their lives and family members.
“Our (gov’t) records show that Middle East has so far sent over 12000 workers to Middle East countries which is strong evidence that it’s doing a genuine work. Please always treasure such opportunities when you get a chance of working, work to your level best and impress the whole world watching you. Working anywhere in Uganda is sweet but working outside Uganda is the sweetest, therefore, when you reach there be the ambassadors of all of us all,” said Vice president.
Ssekandi also requested the families of the departing workers to be faithful to them financially by giving them ample time to work and save more.
The company’s Managing Director Mr Gordon Mugyenyi congratulated the successful applicants and encouraged them to work harder and remain patriotic about their mother country Uganda.
He also promised them that the company would keep visiting them in their respective work places to see how they are faring and whether they have challenges.
“Please be patriots when you reach there (abroad) and never tarnish the country’s image.
We shall not only visit you when abroad but also when you come back here in Uganda, we shall follow you in your homes to see what you will use this money for,” Gordon said.
Gordon revealed that the Company had so far sponsored 215 workers with free air tickets, visa among others as part of their community social responsibility (CSR) to unprivileged families.
He also said that the company provides 100 bags of cement and bricks for those willing to build from their savings when they come back to Uganda.
He revealed that the company was in the last steps of setting up a training academy in Uganda to equip workers with skills according to their job descriptions before they leave country.
