Ugandans in search of better job opportunities will no longer have to go through the hassle of obtaining passports, tickets, and visas to work abroad. This change comes after the Cabinet approved the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) policy, allowing Ugandan graduates to secure respectable jobs with foreign companies without the need to travel to their locations.
This decision brings much-needed relief to many graduates who have faced challenges in funding their trips overseas for employment. Unfortunately, some have fallen victim to scams, while others have encountered human traffickers especially in the Arab countries.
During a meeting on September 23, 2024, led by President Yoweri Museveni, the Cabinet endorsed the BPO policy as a vital strategy to address the persistent high unemployment rates in Uganda.
The proposal was put forth by the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and National Guidance.
BPO enables organizations, whether public or private, to outsource their services to a third party, allowing individuals to be employed without having to relocate to the employer’s country.
The Minister of ICT, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, clarified that through BPO, companies in Europe or other foreign nations can hire Ugandans to perform tasks anywhere without traveling.
BPO can be categorized as either onshore or offshore, depending on whether the employment occurs within or outside the employee’s home country.
Dr. Baryomunsi noted that they looked at successful models in countries like the Philippines to inform their approach.
“But it’s basically IT that facilitates that kind of ability,” he noted.
He emphasized that with numerous colleges and universities providing higher education in the country, many young people are graduating without job prospects.
The current move is to ensure these youths can find quality employment opportunities.
Statistics reveal that over 70% of Ugandan youth aged 18 to 35 struggle to find meaningful work, despite having the necessary skills and education for the job market.
Dr. Baryomunsi pointed out that a considerable number of Ugandans have been migrating to the Middle East in search of jobs.
However, he mentioned that through BPO, they aim to uncover various foreign job opportunities that Ugandans can do while in their home country.
The BPO Council anticipates creating over 100,000 jobs and establishing Uganda as a leading outsourcing destination in Africa.
Improving digital infrastructure
He mentioned that for BPO to thrive, a dependable digital infrastructure is essential. Therefore, the ministry is actively working on reducing internet costs to ensure it is both affordable and accessible across the entire country.
“The infrastructure must be in place. You must be able to afford computers and other digital devices. So as long as we go out to implement this policy, we are implementing it in a broader government framework of ensuring that we accelerate the digital transformation agenda,” he added.
Prof. William Bazeyo, the Chairman of the National BPO Council, emphasized that the successful implementation of BPO hinges on the need for extensive support from government and the private sector.
“This requires improved structure like power, internet, and transportation. People will be working in big groups which means we shall need more working spaces where they can work without uninterrupted power and internet,” he expounded.
He said they plan to establish training centers focused on specific job skills.
