By Simon Turibamwe
As unemployment becomes daily lamentations among Ugandans, most desperate job seekers had found hopes in labour export firms to help them secure jobs from abroad. Some of these companies promise well-paying jobs abroad especially in Middle East and UAE which has attracted the desperate Ugandans to release the little they have to pay their way out. Some sell out properties and others go for bank loans but jobs are not guaranteed after paying in, as all applicants have to go through interviews and tests that determines their fate. Middle East Consultants has been the most leading firm in labour export though perceived among its and would be clients as the most reliable organization. From the beginning, as their job applicants were turned out on conditions of health, fitness or failing interview, just walked out unsatisfied as well as cursing the firm for accepting their cash without refund if they were to be turned away. This was however, looked at as an extortion and exposed by Adolf Kyaligonza a resident of Kabarole district who used all platforms including the media to make sure all his payments to the firm was refunded after tossing him out. As reported in the Sunday Monitor of 22nd February 2019, Adolf Kyaligonza registered with Middle East Consultants Company for a possible job abroad but things didn’t go the way he expected. Kyaligonza say together with 80 more people were told to clear all the money required before doing the interviews for the jobs secured in Qatar because they had only 24 hours to leave. Kyaligonza secured a loan from a bank that favored him on assurance that he would service it with own salary earned from Qatar. He cleared all the required payments of about 6,400,000/= to the firm and only waited to be told the flight time. He was however, disappointed to be turned back and promised to prepare for another opportunity in Abu Dhabi of which he also waited for in a near future but in vain. Kyaligonza says that he had to go into hiding because of the loan and that even when he got his refund after mounting pressure on the firm’s management he still has to pay the bank’s interest for him to settle. Kyaligonza regrets why he never used his 6.4m to start up a venture where he would be earning. From his tale many are cheated while seeking employment from labour export firms but die silent. My fellows advised me to give up on the money because: “Money paid to this firm is none refundable but I could not listen to them because I had realized the managers had capitalized on the ignorance of the desperate Ugandans. If I pay you for something and you don’t deliver why should you keep with my money without refund?” said Kyaligonza. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
