The number of Ugandans travelling to Middle East for work increased following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, latest data shows.
According to Ronald Mukundane, the spokesperson of Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA), 13,000 migrant workers left the country in August, up from a monthly average of 9,000. The workers were destined for mainly Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman.
Mukundane however says labour companies are still struggling to get UAE visas for migrant workers. “So we expect workers to start traveling to Dubai next month.”
He says the companies are now negotiating with Uganda Airlines, operating Dubai flights starting October, to secure air tickets.
Dubai is one of the top four routes from Entebbe International Airport, with an average of 16 flights a week.
Irene Nalujja is among the several passengers who are delighted about UAE lifting the travel ban and hopes to fly back to Dubai in November.
She however wants the government to reduce the turnaround time to less than two hours and the cost of re-testing arriving passengers from 65 US Dollars to 50 US Dollars.
Richard Mujjuzi, a travel agent and former chairman of Ugandan Association of Travel Agents-TUGATA, says that most people are traveling for work, business, and medical care.
Mujjuzi is optimistic that the aviation industry could record a 40 percent recovery rate by end of the year if more countries open up and also if more people travel for say the Dubai Expo that will run from October 2020 to January 2021.
“Otherwise, the increase in passenger numbers is currently driven by recruitment of migrant workers,” says Mujjuzi.