Poor and Unemployed? Then Go to Iraq

I was reading a BBC News article this week about the prevalence of Ugandan security guards in Iraq since 2007. I couldn't help but be disturbed for a number of reasons.

Iraq is currently a war zone where roughly 100,000 cilivian deaths have occurred since the 2003 invasion (according to Iraq Body Count). The mainstream media report suicide bombings and kidnappings on a daily basis and we are all too aware of the numerous accusations of torture and murder committed by foreign troops. Iraq is in a state of occupation, civil war and general disarray. It is not the first country that would come to mind when considering career prospects.

So why have more than 10,000 Ugandans already gone to work there as security guards? Seth Katerema Mwesigye, who was interviewed by the BBC, claims that the money he made in Iraq made him wealthy by Ugandan standards and that Iraq has proved quite lucrative for many Ugandan security firms. Unfortunately, for many Ugandans facing poverty and unemployment, it is seen as an opportunity to escape. But at what cost - death, mutilation, psychological scarring? It is disgraceful that people have to risk their very lives to simply have a livelihood.

Also, I do not like the idea of foreign security guards, from any country, operating in Iraq. The word mercenary jumps to mind! Though I have no reason to believe that the thousands of Ugandans who worked in Iraq operated in any fashion other than professionally, Mr Mwesigye himself acknowledged that other security firms were now offering similar services for close to half the price. Price undercutting could lead to the lowering of standards and very soon the calibre of individual being sent to fill these posts (which surely could be filled by the local population) could seriously be in question.

It is a dangerous career path which people are turning to out of desperation and one that I fear will not benefit the already suffering Iraqi population.