The government is currently in the advanced stages of planning to send nurses from Uganda to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, according to the Minister of Gender, Betty Amongi Ongom.
She mentioned that negotiations have been initiated with both the UK and Germany, and these countries have shown interest in receiving nurses from Uganda.
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Minister Amongi intends to travel to the UK and Germany next week to finalize the details with the relevant institutions and authorities representing the Ugandan government.
Once these negotiations are completed, formal agreements for nurse exports to the UK and Germany will be signed through the Ugandan embassy.
It’s important to note that this initiative focuses on exporting nurses, not doctors, in response to concerns about brain drain in Uganda.
The government’s analysis indicates that a significant percentage of trained nurses, specifically over 53%, remain unemployed in both government and private sectors.
This program aims to provide job opportunities for nurses and caregivers, thereby supporting the national economy.
Regarding the exact number of nurses to be sent abroad, Minister Amongi stated that the figures will be disclosed once bilateral agreements have been finalized.
Uganda currently has a registered count of approximately 70,167 nurses and midwives, as reported by Seed Global Health. However, it’s essential to highlight that only 48,000 of them are currently employed.
This announcement was made during a high-level reflection dialogue on gender and equity planning and budgeting at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.
The event, organized by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and supported by Feed the Future and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), focused on strengthening gender and equity-responsive planning and budgeting in Uganda to enhance household incomes and the quality of life for Ugandans.
Justus Cherop, the president of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, recently commented that the country has an excess of nurses.
