Long lines of people at Entebbe International Airport have become a common sight, a reflection of the rising number of Ugandans leaving the country for education, employment, and other opportunities abroad.
Fresh figures from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) show that between January and June 2025, a total of 582,927 passengers departed Uganda, compared to 550,439 arrivals—a difference of over 32,000. Departures rose by 7.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024, while arrivals increased by 4.3 percent.
This outward trend is not new. In 2022, Entebbe recorded 827,605 departures against 746,800 arrivals, leaving a gap of 80,987. In 2023, the gap narrowed to 24,616, and by 2024 it had shrunk further to just 8,280, with 1,772,622 departures versus 1,764,342 arrivals.
Why More Ugandans Are Leaving
According to Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, several factors are driving the increase in departures.
“Many international conferences and workshops take place in the first half of the year, and Ugandans attending these events—along with students returning to international universities—make up a significant share of travelers,” he explained.
Business travel also plays a role. Mundeyi pointed to Uganda’s participation in trade shows such as the Canton Fair in China, held twice annually, which draws local entrepreneurs eager to connect with suppliers.
However, labour export—a long-standing driver of migration—has slowed. Mundeyi noted that stricter government regulations were introduced after reports of mistreatment and exploitation of Ugandan workers abroad. Measures such as mandatory security deposits for recruitment agencies have raised costs, making Ugandans less competitive compared to workers from Ethiopia, Pakistan, and neighboring countries.
“Unfortunately, our people are seen as expensive and less hardworking compared to Ethiopians and Pakistanis,” he said, adding that this perception has pushed some labour firms to recruit elsewhere.
The Role of Unemployment
For Baker Akantambira, chairperson of the Uganda Association of Recruitment Agencies (UAERA), the biggest factor is unemployment.
“The lack of jobs at home is the number one reason more Ugandans are leaving. Even for low-skilled work, the chance to earn up to five times more abroad outweighs the challenges of relocation,” he said.
He added that even educated Ugandans are seeking professional environments and better-paying jobs outside Uganda.
Other Categories of Travellers
Vianney Luggya, UCAA’s public affairs manager, noted that medical travellers, sports teams, and religious pilgrims also add to the departure numbers. Students and job seekers remain a significant portion of those leaving.
“People travelling for medical care often stay abroad longer, sometimes with caretakers. Sports teams and pilgrims also spend weeks or months away, which adds to the statistics,” he said.
Luggya also highlighted that in some months, arrivals exceed departures. For example, December consistently records higher arrivals due to tourism and diaspora returnees, while months like November in 2023 and 2024 also saw more arrivals, influenced by school holidays and international events.
Migration Beyond Official Numbers
Official data from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development shows that the number of Ugandans formally deployed to the Middle East peaked at 93,396 in 2022, before dropping sharply in subsequent years. By June 2025, only 18,134 workers had been recorded.
But according to Aggrey Kibenge, the ministry’s permanent secretary, many more Ugandans migrate informally.
“Our systems only capture workers recruited through licensed agencies and formal contracts. A lot of people leave on tourist visas or through other informal means, making them invisible to official records,” he said.
He warned that such informal migration is risky. “When you leave outside the official system, we cannot trace your employer, working conditions, or welfare. That’s dangerous both for the individual and for the country.”
The Bigger Picture
With unemployment still high—12.3 percent overall, and a staggering 42.6 percent of youth aged 15–24 not in employment, education, or training, according to UBOS’s 2024 report—experts believe the migration wave will continue.
For many Ugandans, leaving is not just about opportunity but about escaping stagnation and building a more secure future.
As Akantambira put it: “Unemployment is the main reason Ugandans are leaving. Even for low-skilled jobs, the promise of earning several times more abroad is simply too strong to ignore.”
src: Monitor
