An eight-week nationwide information campaign to promote safe
migration and to prevent irregular migration and human trafficking
from, to and through Uganda has been launched as a joint initiative
between the Ugandan government, the Inter-governmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU) and IOM.

The campaign is part of a broader European Commission funded
regional effort in five of the six IGAD countries (Djibouti,
Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda) to ensure potential
migrants are aware of the risks involved in irregular migration by
land and sea, especially along the East African migration route
which stretches from the Horn of Africa to and through Sudan and
Libya and across the Mediterranean sea. 

Potential migrants will also be encouraged to seek legal
opportunities for migration which would offer some level of
protection once a destination country has been reached.

The campaign seeks to target community leaders and local
government officials, civil society groups as well as young people
in secondary schools and youth associations through public service
announcements, talk shows on national and commercial radio and
television stations, advertisements in newspapers, as well as
posters and flyers for wide distribution.

"The so-called benefits of irregular migration are nothing but a
cruel illusion," says Matia Kasaijja, Uganda's Minister of State
for Internal Affairs. "The government applauds this joint
initiative and reiterates its commitment to cooperate with all
national and international partners to identify practical solutions
and humane responses to the challenges of irregular
migration." 

An estimated 171,100 regular Ugandan migrants were believed to
be living abroad in 2000 according to census data, with the United
Kingdom and Tanzania being the main destination countries and the
United States, Canada and Germany also popular. However, the number
of Ugandan irregular migrants abroad is unknown.

While the positive contribution of Ugandan migrants to the
Ugandan economy is well recognized, close to one billion dollars
remitted home in 2008, there is considerable concern that an
increasing number of Ugandans are taking greater risks to seek
employment opportunities abroad through smuggling
networks. 

"Many Ugandans have been lured into irregular migration by
conmen who promise better financial opportunities abroad. Often,
they work through intermediaries who are known and ‘trusted'
individuals within their communities," says Jeremy Haslam, IOM's
Chief of Mission in Uganda. "The reality is vastly different as
many will later fall into the hands of criminals that force them
into situations involving sexual or labour exploitation after they
have already endured dangerous journeys to destination
countries."

Campaigns have already started in Kenya and Ethiopia, with
Djibouti due to start soon and Sudan to begin in June.

For more information, please contact:

Jeremy Haslam

IOM Uganda

Tel: +256 312 261 179

E-mail: "mailto:jhaslam@iom.int">jhaslam@iom.int