Jerusalem eyes German labour market 

Lira | Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences located in Lira City, has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with a German-based company.

The agreement will offer labour opportunities for students who aspire to find work in Germany.

On Saturday, December 21, 2024, Rainer Jungo, the Executive Director of Meine Zukunft Limited signed the agreement with the management of Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences at their facility in Lira City.

Jungo announced that they aim to commence the exportation of the first cohort of skilled health labourers in October 2025.

He emphasized that there are significant labour opportunities for health workers in Germany, noting that all individuals will be treated equally, with no discrimination, provided they sign contracts.

The instructors, Jungo said, will be assigned to the students promptly before export begins.

Peter Okodo, the Executive Director of Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences, expressed his appreciation for this significant development and extended his gratitude to Lira district woman MP, Linda Agnes Auma for selecting his institution among many to facilitate this opportunity.

Okodo noted that the Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences commenced operations in 2010 with an initial enrollment of just 30 students, which has now surged to 1,500 students.

In 2010, there were only three private health sciences schools across the nation, he said.

Currently, in the Lango sub-region alone, there are over 16 health sciences schools, while the total number nationwide has increased from three in 2010 to 120.

Since its inception in 2010, Jerusalem has produced over 7,000 health professionals who are now employed in various health facilities throughout the country.

Okodo highlighted the challenges faced by the institution, including limited funding for modern equipment and the high costs associated with training nurses and midwives.

MP Auma has continued to demonstrate her remarkable advocacy skills, particularly in securing special visas for medical professionals and other healthcare workers in Uganda.

She has announced the successful acquisition of special visas for professionals and has organized a forum for medical practitioners to search for employment prospects within the hospitality and tourism industries.

This forum, she said, will also address strategies for empowering Ugandan youth to take advantage of these opportunities.

During her visit to Germany in October, she proposed the issuance of special employment visas for young individuals trained in fields such as medical and health sciences, hospitality, agriculture, and engineering.

The signing of the agreements was witnessed by several officials including Sam Atul, Mayor of Lira City Council, RCM Okello Orik, Lira district LC5 chairperson, and Tom Oguta from Lira City Council Labor Office, among others.