By Mulengera Reporters
Labor externalization firm Middle East Consultants’ MD Gordon Mugyenyi has condemned the practice of Ugandan workers leveraging on the abundantly available access to social media in the Middle Eastern countries to demonize the NRM government while glorifying Bobi Wine and his People Power Movement.
Mugyenyi says this is being ungrateful to the NRM government whose policy has permitted firms like his to freely connect hundreds of thousands of jobless youngsters to job opportunities in the Middle Eastern countries. “I have previously seen some using the opportunity to be in UAE for work to use the freely available internet access to attack the President and fight government which is unfair and being ungrateful because you are gaining access to these lucrative job opportunities because of his liberal policies. You are free to support your Bobi Wine but how sure are you that once he becomes President, this policy won’t be reversed? In case that were to happen, all of you would find yourselves being forced back home which won’t be good for you and your families which have a lot of hopes in you,” Mugyenyi said Sunday mid-morning as part of his send-off address to 100 youths moments before flying them out to Dubai.
He urged the fresh recruits to shun politics while in UAE and instead concentrate on making money because money and politics seldom mix. “What is taking you to UAE is to make money and lead better lives. Kindly let’s concentrate on that for our own sake and the families, the parents we are living behind,” he said adding that previously things became complicated for a certain young man who used his stay in Middle East as a platform to direct vulgarities at the political leaders back home in Uganda.
Away from the anti-People Power political rant, which came as a by the way, Mugyenyi delivered a comprehensive lecture focused at equipping the 100 youths (part of the 216 group; some travelling later) with life skills they will need to gainfully survive and operate in UAE where all of them are to be working for a government entity. They each have a contract of 2 years renewable and Mugyenyi advised each one of them to aim at working in UAE for 8 years so that by the time they stop working there and return home for good, they have each satisfied all their needs.
Speaking like a parent, in a session clearly aimed at emotionally boosting the morale of the recruits and their parents, Mugyenyi advised the recruits to use the first two years as the dusting (kwekubako nfufu) phase and the subsequent years as period for personal development back home. He urged them to ensure that at the time of returning home, they must each be ready to marry and become responsible family men and women.
Saying their Emirates flight out of Entebbe would mark the end of poverty in their lives, Mugyenyi assured the very enthusiastic young men: “It’s now a sure deal that you are going to get the money but please always be consultative seeking guidance from your parents for every investment decision you make.”
Urging them to always pray and trust in God, Mugyenyi warned against superstitious beliefs that have previously prompted some young men to return back to Uganda prematurely (ahead of completion of work contracts) claiming family spirits want them back. He caused laughter referring to some who feign sickness which can’t be diagnosed in the Dubai hospitals justifying all this confusion on the fact that “bino bintu byakika bye bintawanya [that its family spirits tormenting me].” This commonly happens once a recruit accumulates modest cash which he/she considers adequate to enjoy for the rest of their live only to leave their parents in tears.
Gratefully the recruits, who Mugyenyi invited to openly disclose or discuss what they intend to invest in once they begin earning the money, underwent rigorous induction training alerting them on what to expect, the dos and don’ts. That is the stage at which those uncomfortable with the entire arrangement are advised and permitted to ease out of the whole thing. Emphasizing Godliness, deeply-spiritual Mugyenyi said it was by God’s grace that the 100 were chosen (from the 216 who qualified) to travel under the first batch.
From the disclosed plans, it was clear many of the recruits intend to buy land in the suburbs of Kampala, build residential and rental houses. Many said they want to make their parents happy by investing in family houses and bring to an end the culture of living in rented mizigos. An equal number spoke of desire to invest in livestock farming and very few, if any, expressed readiness to invest in their upcountry places of origin. Everyone preferred Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso.
To their credit, the Middle East Consultants officials ensured the recruits were representative of the whole country as opposed to all of them coming from one region. “This is good for inclusiveness so that we have balanced development going to all regions of Uganda,” remarked an excited parent from Sembabule.
Gordon Mugyenyi, who belongs to UAERA, an association that monthly takes a joint recruits total of 4,500, used the plenary discussion session to help the youngsters polish their investment plans. Some had plans which are too ambitious (like buying land on Kampala road, Muyenga etc) and he said its his duty to advise such ambitious young men to have realistic dreams to avoid ending up disappointed.
Thanking God for a fact that there is rapidly growing demand for Ugandan laborers in UAE (largely because of good conduct exhibited by previous recruits), Mugyenyi urged the youngsters to be hardworking, well behaved and desist from boozing. He told them boozing would mess them up and result into laziness, absenteeism from work, total ruin and regret for the rest of their lives.
He casually told them in the 100 recruits, he has about 5 spies who will be regularly reporting to him so that those out to spoil Uganda’s image while in UAE are identified and isolated. “Agencies from other countries now think we have bewitched UAE. Every rich person there prefers workers from Uganda and one of them confessed to me recently. He asked how have you managed to earn so much trust as Ugandans? So, let each one of us be a good ambassador for the country so that when we are done with our 8 years, our younger brothers and sisters are able to benefit also,” Mugyenyi pleaded as the recruits nodded in approval.
He also stressed personal hygiene, something he manifested seriousness about by sending away a young man who came with an overgrown beard and hair to first run back to town and have himself cleaned up. The young man returned within a short time perhaps fearing if he delayed, he would find his colleagues gone to the airport already.
They grew even more cheerful when Mugyenyi told them of the good life and decent accommodation and access to smart phones and fast internet that awaits them in UAE. “I can assure you as soon as you land at Dubai Airport, where you will find buses waiting for you for a 1 hour drive to UAE, you will begin feeling differently as even the air you breathe will clearly seem different,” he said adding that he looks forward to seeing them return as wealth off people participating in community decision-making in the Sub Counties they each hail from.
He said his company would reward hard work by complimenting whoever begins house construction with 100 bags of cement and iron sheets. Yet that won’t be all. He said whoever returns and invests successfully will be supported with 2 Frisian cows to start a new life as a duly married man or woman. He said as Middle East Consultants, this is the least they can do to supplement the President’s efforts aimed at producing well-earning citizens who are economically self-sustaining.
On finishing his inspirational talk, Mugyenyi called for questions and no hand went up. He then called on parents who felt there is something he hadn’t said to their children. Only one elderly man stood up saying: “You have said it all and I can only say to our children that please don’t let us down. The MD has done his part and you have our full blessing.” Then Esther Nsasirwe, a very prayerful parent from Sembabule, stepped forward volunteering to lead the final send off prayer for the 100 youngsters who unanimously pledged to be good ambassadors for Uganda. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
