Economic crisis in Uganda—JEEMA youth chair writes to UAE envoy, employers over pay rise

Justice Forum (JEEMA) party youth league leaders through their chairman has written to the Ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Uganda over ‘worse economic crisis’ in the Republic of Uganda.
In a letter dated December 13 to H.E Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi, the league’s major plea is ‘salary increment’ for their sisters and brothers in the UAE. Below is their letter word-for-word.

By Musanje Haroona I Youth League Chairperson

Mengo, Kampala—23, December 2021: We great you in the name of the Almighty Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad. We are Ugandans and leaders of Youth from Justice Forum, Mengo. Our party believes in Social Justice, where equity prevails despite religion, color, tribe, political party, region across all aspects of life.

Our concern is about first letting you understand the economic crisis in the country Uganda and how Covid-19 has affected our people, also to appreciate you for always honoring our economic outcry by employing our dear sisters and brothers in your country with employment opportunities.

After analyzing what we are going through as a country Uganda, we seek a 25% salary increment for our brothers and sisters working in your great country for a matter of managing the economic crisis/pressure from families at home.

We seek your involvement in terms of adding a voice to our appeal and any form of help to be able to succeed in this advocacy.

We are planning a press conference soon and we would pray for your office to help us access your people by sending us a media representative so that we can communicate directly to the people in your home country. We are to use Arabic and English so that we effectively communicate with the employers in your country.

We have attached a ZIADAT ALRAATIB APPEAL CONTENT to this letter, which we are praying for your office to read through so that you understand the crisis happening in Uganda.

Ziadat Alraatib Appeal Content

1. Who are we and why are we doing this

2. The nature of the problem (causes, extent, and hardships)

3. What can be done and who must do what

4. Benefits of the salary increment

Who are we, and why are we doing this?

We are youth leaders organized as JEEMA Youth League, a youth body under JUSTICE FORUM (JEEMA) a political party in Uganda, Mengo Block 8, Plot 563, Kampala.

The party believes in Social Justice, where equity prevails despite differences in color, races, tribes, religion and political affiliation.

There is a public outcry/economic crisis in Uganda because of Covid-19 pandemic, and our hope is in the Middle East where our sisters and brothers are dominantly working for a living, from various work they do. i.e., cleaners, drivers, laborers, etc.

The nature of the problem (Causes, extent, outcome and hardship)

Most of the people who get a chance to be employed in Middle East fall under 90% of the population, majority of whom are the poor, unemployed, almost destitute people; only surviving by the day, hand to mouth, despondent, hopeless, self-resigned and hugely desperate.

ALSO READ:

Our generation is generally characterized by failure to thrive. We are gloomy, hungry and angry. The main features of the crisis in the state are low or no income at all, unemployment, disease, poor health, hunger, landless and homelessness.

Figures of vital statistic in Uganda are unfortunately quite unreliable because of poor civil registration system. The weakness in the system is compensated by creation of data according to dictates of political expediency.

Based on the available data from UBOS, however, the following can serve to highlight the crisis.

a) Population earning less than $1.9 is 41.7% (2019)

b) Youth unemployment 64-70%

c) Maternal deaths 16-19 mothers per day

d) Child stunting 30% (2016-2017)

e) Child death (0-5 years) 465 per day.

f) Doctor-patient ratio 1: 257,725

g) Nurse-patient ratio 1: 11,000

The Covid-19 pandemic that rendered many people unemployed have intensified the crisis, decimated many business especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), increased poverty and degraded education.

Covid-19 Pandemic

According to Covid-19 policy brief prepared by the United Nations Development Program UNDP in Uganda, in April 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had had a serious impact on the economy and live hoods of Uganda in the following ways:

a) Closure of business has affected 60% of Ugandans employed in the industry and services sector and further affected 90% of Ugandans in the informal sector.

b) The pandemic has affected growth, household incomes and livelihoods.

c) The pandemic has further entrenched poverty, leaving about 3.6 million people in poverty.

d) Closure of schools and degradation of the education infrastructure has affected an already poor quality in education sector and impacted future human capital development.

e) The pandemic has increased the national debt portfolio as Uganda had to seek external financial assistance to supplement a merge domestic resources envelope.

f) Export / import trade, tourism, foreign remittances and earnings suffered immensely.

g) The pandemic has degraded the national health infrastructure and exposed the rot and poor remuneration and work conditions of health care providers.

With an increase in poverty, reduction in income, business closures, loss of livelihoods, loss of jobs and decline in quality of life, there is a tremendous challenge for the regime to respond quickly to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 through an economic recovery and stimulus package.

Reports of corruption in the management of Covid-19 funds aside, the NRM regime could not generate a comprehensive national recovery and stimulus program to lift section, medical workers, teachers, private school owners, local entrepreneurs badly affected by the pandemic out of the dire conditions they find themselves now.

What can be done and who must do what

We seek our dear employers must understand the economic crises in Uganda so that they can appreciate 25% salary increment to Ugandans who are their employees.

Our prayers to you, our brothers and sisters in the Almighty God; we seek a salary increment of 25% for our families employed in Middle East because that salary is the major source of income in our families at home across all aspects of life.

They normally pay our brothers and sisters $150—$300 but basing on our local challenges /demand we pray for an increment.

Benefits of the increment

Middle East countries and Uganda believe in God and this puts us in a position of helping the needy for an exchange of rewards from the Almighty God.

After considering the 25% salary increment, it will be a motivation tool for your employees to work with passion and withstanding the economic pressure at home.