The impacts of Covid-19 on Ugandan migrants in Middle East

Abstract

The study was intended to identify the impact of Covid-19 on Ugandan migrants in GCC. In order to obtain the impact, different objectives were used that is to say related to background of the responded, economic challenges due to the pandemic and other challenges due to the pandemic. Other objective which assessed social benefits received by the migrants was also assessed. The study findings indicated that the majority of Ugandan migrants in GCC were female, almost a half of them were never married, almost three quarters of the migrants were in the age bracket of 20-30. more than a half of Uganda migrants were residing in rural areas, majority of the Ugandan migrants were currently working, the biggest proportion of Ugandan migrants were Muslim and more than a half of the migrants had attained secondary education as their highest level of education. Besides that, majority were residing in Uganda at the outbreak of the pandemic and the majority claimed that they returned to Uganda because of other reasons. A biggest proportion of respondents claimed that work increased during the pandemic, a proportion of the Ugandan migrants received no payment during the pandemic, Ugandan migrants in GCC faced a challenge of fear, almost a half of the migrants received no benefits from their employers during the pandemic and almost a half of the migrants received nothing from the Ugandan government. Therefore, the researcher recommends the government to; ensure that all Ugandan migrants are able to receive health services, ensure that Ugandan migrants are comforted to avoid loneliness and fear, designing policies that can favour Ugandan migrants and ensure that all Ugandan migrants in GCC who are not employed and lack enough resources for survival with or whose contract has been terminated are catered for.