The Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated an investigation into labour exporters accused of illegally withholding the passports of job applicants they failed to place in employment. The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) has reported numerous complaints from Ugandans whose passports have been retained by labour exporters for extended periods, sometimes spanning months or even years.

Maj Gen Apollo Kasiita-Gowa, head of the DCIC, revealed that over 2,000 passports are currently held by these exporters, preventing their rightful owners from accessing them despite the exporters’ failure to secure employment for the applicants. Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lydia Arithea Nakiwala, stated that a thorough probe has been launched with the aim of arresting and prosecuting any labour exporters found illegally withholding passports. Nakiwala emphasized that passports are government-issued personal documents and should not be retained by third parties. She also mentioned that labour exporters had previously been warned about this practice but have not complied. Labour exporters frequently recruit youth, predominantly females, desperate for jobs from various regions of the country, applying for their passports and travel visas on their behalf.

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre reached out to the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies for a response. The response is provided here.