Government asked to invest in happiness of Ugandans
The deputy chief executive officer, Dubai Export Authority Mr Mohammad Ali Mohammad Kamali (L) and the Second Deputy Premier, Gen Moses Ali (R). Photo by Stephen Otage
Kampala. The Dubai Export Authority has advised government to create a Ministry to monitor and put in place things that make Ugandans happy.
Speaking at the UAE-Uganda trade and Investment conference in Kampala yesterday, Mr Mohammad Ali Mohammad Kamali, the deputy chief executive officer, Dubai Export Authority, said a happy community is the basis upon which people willingly embrace government programmes and strive to create wealth and better their standard of living.
The Second Deputy Premier, Gen Moses Ali, who opened the conference described this as a unique and important opportunity for Uganda to break into the Middle East market, and especially into India and China where most imports originate.
“We need to sensitise the people in both countries on how to recognise each other’s cultures and respect them to sort out the labour market disputes because this arrangement is good for both sides,” he said when asked about the numerous complaints that have been raised regarding the way Ugandans are treated when they go to work in the Middle East.
The Dubai Authority’s advice comes at a time when Ugandan employees are beginning to develop diseases related to stressful working conditions that have resulted in inefficiencies at work.
THE BACKGROUND
According to the United Nation’s 2013 World Happiness Report released yesterday, Uganda is ranked 120 out of 156 countries surveyed, marginally ahead of the wealthier neighbouring Kenya at 123. Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi in descending order take the consecutive slots from 151, meaning their citizens huddle among the unhappiest people in the world. The report examined happiness both as an aspiration of every human being and a measure of social progress.
