Family tasks labor firm to return daughter locked in Saudi Arabian hospital

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The family of Joan Agnes Kyotalimye, who was taken to Saudi Arabia as a causal laborer has tasked Alasker International company to return their daughter. This stems from a video on different social media platforms showing Kyotalimye ill, and locked up in a hospital in Saudi Arabia following organ theft.

Kyotalimye’s uncle, Moses Mubiru Ntwani, told journalists at the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA) offices in Kampala on Thursday, that their daughter told them that she has been locked up in a hospital room where she is getting TB treatment. He also said that Kyotalimye told them that she saw a note indicating that she would be operated on, which triggered an alarm among the family members.

Paul Buluma, Kyotalimye’s father says that his daughter has never had any health complications apart from a toe that was operated on when she was still young. Buluma wants her daughter returned to the country for a second medical review to get treatment if indeed she has TB.

Abdul Wahab Muyomba, the Managing Director of Alasker International Labour exporting company explained that Kyotalimye went to Saudi Arabia through his company on September 24th, 2022 in sound health condition after passing various medical tests conducted in the country.

According to Muyomba, their partners abroad received Kyotalimye in Saudi Arabia. He insisted that Kyotalimye is undergoing TB treatment in the hospital and denies claims that she is a victim of an organ transplant.

Ibrahim Karim Bogere, the Vice Chairman of UAERA stated that Alasker International Labour recruitment company is a registered labor company under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. He explained that UAERA is in touch with the company and government to return kyotalimye back home once her health condition improves.

He explained that although Kyotalimye passed all medical checkups and was declared fit to work in Saudi Arabia, she tested positive for Tuberculosis after undergoing a second medical test conducted by the Nesmat Akeem Recruitment agency in Saudi Arabia.

Over 1,000 Ugandan girls are stranded in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Some claim that they were externalized by registered labour companies in Uganda, a claim Ronnie Mukundane, the spokesperson of UAERA dismisses.

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