The decision by Erick Kigula, a resident of Kitemu village in Wakiso district and a Primary School Teacher by profession to go for greener pastures in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is beginning to pay off.
The future looked murky for him and his young family, a thing that prompted him to go abroad when an opportunity presented itself through Middle East Consultants Ltd (MECL), Uganda’s leading labour exporting agency. He is working as a Security Guard.
“The money I was earning from teaching was way too little to develop me,” Kigula says, adding that this made him seek a job abroad through Middle East Consultants. This was a tough decision because he had to leave his wife and young family behind.
“I have been in Abu Dhabi for close to five years, but every year I come for about a month to check on my family,” he says, adding that unlike in Uganda, Security Guards in Middle East Countries are more of customer care personnel.
Achievements
He reveals that his wife is the manger of the money he earns abroad. He adds that he started by constructing three rooms whereby the two were used by his family and the other is rented out to earn an extra buck. He then put up a house where his family now resides.
His wife, Jane Kigula says “there is a very big difference” in their life after her husband decided to go for ‘kyeyo’ in United Arab Emirates.
Middle East Consultants Managing Director, Gordon Mugyenyi thanked the wife for putting husband’s money to best use.
“If we can have more youth doing things like Kigula has done, Uganda will easily transform economically,” Mugyenyi said.
He added: “I urge all those managing the money sent by our children abroad to put it to best use.”
He notes that it is a company’s policy to visit their clients to see the progress they are making. MECL gave Shs1m cash to Kigula to help him paint his house.
Life in UEA
Kigula says life in United Arab Emirates is good especially if one goes through licensed companies like MECL.
“Life is good in Abu Dhabi. Working conditions are also good. If they were bad I would have already returned home,” he says, adding that if one is focused, they can progress financially.
“The youth should work when they get a job opportunity abroad,” he advises.
