Middle East Consultants (MEC) Limited, a consultancy and recruitment company in Uganda has Sunday morning sent off a total of 78 youths to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.
According to the MEC Managing Director, Gordon Mugyenyi, jobs have already been reserved for all the 78 that left Entebbe on Sunday morning, to work as security guards. He said that 51 were headed to Qatar’s capital Doha while 27 were headed to UAE.
During the final briefing and sendoff ceremony held at the company’s Muyenga offices, Mr Mugyenyi advised the youths to go and concentrate on what is taking them (to work).
“Do not go and forget where you have come from. Concentrate on what has taken you which for all of you is to work. The conditions maybe a little different from what you have been used to, but we have briefed you thoroughly and are confident you will handle,” he said.
“After you have made your money, don’t forget the families you left behind. Don’t forget the parents and your wives that sacrificed all they had so that you could go.”
Middle East Consultants’ Managing Director Gordon Mugyenyi addressing workers at the Muyenga offices
Mugyenyi also advised parents who had escorted their children not to pile a lot of pressure on them before they can settle down saying that it could cause the child to cut communication with them.
“Parents should allow their children atleast three months so they can settle down before starting to ask them to send money home. If you put your children on pressure, it causes them to change numbers and then you will start thinking your child died or has been harmed.”
Entebbe Airport official checking travel documents of the workers as they signed in for departure
Responding to the claims that Ugandans who are taken to Middle East countries are mistreated and brutalized, he said that those cases are common if the workers do not go under a registered company.
“Those things happen if someone is taken by un recognized companies. Middle East Consultants follows the law and is registered under the ministry of labor.”
He noted that “illegal recruiters give you business and tourist Visas to go and look for a job. At the expiry of the Visa, desperate Ugandans end up in prostitution and being house maids where they are man brutalized.”
He urged the public to differentiate illegal recruiters and licensed companies by seeking advice from the Ministry of Labour.
Joyous youths leaving MEC offices in Muyenga for Entebbe Airport
Allan Taremwa, one of the youths, also leader of the team going to UAE told ChimpReports that he was excited at the opportunity and that he hopes to save enough money to start his own business in Uganda.
“Personally, I have been working as a data clerk at USAID Mbarara but I have been earning a meager salary. This is a chance for me to save enough money and open my own business in Uganda at the end of my contract.”
The MD introducing Allan Taremwa, the leader of the team going to UAE
He said that he has interest in real estates’ management and that he is optimistic he can raise enough money for his startup capital by the end of the two years.
The team going to Qatar was captained by Justus Tugume, a former businessman who hails from Kakiika in Mbarara District.
Justus Tugume (R) is the leader of the team going to Qatar
The excitement of having your job secured abroad. the whole team will work in Qatar and UAE as security guards
MEC Recruitment and vetting officer, Kyalimpa giving the final briefing at MEC offices in Muyenga