Arova
Reality Limited, a labour Export Company in Lira has been tasked to refund more than 700 million Shillings it received from external job seekers.
In 2021,
the company collected money from more than 600 people with promises of job placements in Qatar, Dubai, Switzerland, and other countries. However, the group did not travel and accused the company of defrauding them.
The group led by Steven Okullo
and Freda Akello says that they paid money for registration, processing passports, and medical tests, but none of them were offered any job.
Voxpop
//Cue in: “This
company did…
Cue out:
... up to now.”//
On Thursday, while appearing on a radio station in Lira, the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development Betty Amongi said that the group did not travel after the Ministry of Internal Affairs suspended the issuance of passports.
Luo bite:
//Cue in:
“Gin ame omio…
Cue out: …
Dubai International Airport.”//
Translation;
“The
reason they were not taken was not because the company did not want to take
them but rather the Ministry of Internal Affairs had suspended issuance of
passports for almost a month so by the time they were getting the passport, the
World Cup games had already started so the company ended up taking people
registered from Buganda region who already had passports. I advised
the company to tell those who are still interested in working in the future to wait
while those who want their money back are refunded. Right now as I speak,
four people from Oyam who remain patient are working in Qatar while three are
working at Dubai International Airport.”
She tasked
the complainants to present proof of each payment to enable the company to refund the money.
Luo bite:
//Cue in:
“Iceng Abic an …
Cue out:
... abiro gin ii.”//
Yosa
Jafari, the General Manager of Arova Reality Limited explained that since 2022,
the company has been refunding people who have proof of payment.
//Cue in:
“When I was…
Cue out: …
that’s not true.”//
On Friday, hundreds of youths from the Lango, West Nile, and Teso sub-region converged at
Adyel Boarding Primary School playground hoping to be refunded.
However, only one person was refunded after presenting receipts.
//Cue in: “Here
we are…
Cue out:
... it at home.”//
Others who claimed they paid money but did not receive receipts, were turned away.
Luo Voxpop
not refunded;
//Cue in:
“Dano acel ame…
Cue out: …
tye bot gi.”//
Geoffrey
Omony, the District Police Commander of Lira City West Division, advised the youths to take legal action against individual staff who received the payments.
//Cue in:
“If you have…
Cue out: …not
a defense.”//
The youths
have written to the Speaker of Parliament seeking intervention in the matter.