By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The Saudi Arabia authorities have pardoned the second batch of jailed Ugandan migrant workers and they are on their way back home.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development on its official X-Handle today Monday, 4th November, 2024.
“We are pleased to announce that following a recent meeting with Hon. Esther Anyakun Davinia and the officials from the Saudi Government, the second batch of Ugandan migrant workers who were imprisoned in Saudi Arabia has been pardoned. They are now on their way home to Uganda,” reads the brief statement on X.
The government of Saudi Arabia had earlier announced a pardon for Ugandans imprisoned for various offenses, according to Esther Anyakun Davinia, the State Minister of Gender, Labor, and Social Development.
Speaking at a press conference at the government-owned media center on Monday, 21st October, 2024, Anyakun confirmed that all Ugandans detained, except those serving sentences for capital offenses such as murder and drug trafficking, will be released.
This includes women with children born in Saudi Arabia. The decision was reached during a recent meeting between Ugandan officials, led by Minister Anyakun, and Ahmed Alrajhi, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia. The meeting, held earlier this month, aimed to address various challenges faced by Ugandan migrant workers in the Kingdom and strengthen bilateral relations.
During the discussions, the Ugandan delegation focused on documenting distressed cases to facilitate the repatriation of citizens. However, Minister Anyakun stated that the fate of Ugandans imprisoned for drug trafficking remains uncertain, as Saudi Arabian laws regarding drugs are stringent.
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