The government of Uganda will open a shelter in the United Arab Emirates-UAE to shelter girls that get stranded in that country after being trafficked, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
The president made the promise after discussions with the executive leaders of Ugandans living and working in the United Arab Emirates, under their umbrella body; The Association of Ugandans living in the United Arab Emirates (AUU) led by the Chairperson Nsubuga Abdulbasit.
The meeting which took place on the sidelines of the Expo 2020 Budai was also attended by the 3rd deputy Premier Hon. Rukia Nakadama at St. Regis Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“We talked about issues of child trafficking in cabinet and agreed to put a shelter where girls can be kept when they get problems here and also strengthen the rules governing the movement of people,” Museveni said.
He further advised the leaders to invite Ugandans living in the UAE to register with the association at a fee, which will enable them to run the activities of the Association and monitor their members.
The president also pledged government financial support to run their association and also put some money in their SACCO where members can save and borrow with very small interest
“We shall assist you with funds. I will put USD 100,000 in your SACCO so that you may borrow and start a small business here. We shall also put USD 50,000 in your association,” he added.
The association’s chairperson Nsubuga thanked President Museveni for sparing time off his busy working visit to meet them but reporter to him an increasing number of Ugandans trafficked in the UAE and requested support to be able to monitor them and help them where necessary.
“We have got many girls here who are trafficked and they end up on streets suffering. We have been helping them but we need more support,” Nsubuga said.
He also informed the president that they used to get reports of Ugandans committing suicide however since they started the association, they are helping them and the cases seem to be levelling off.
