Macrines Nyapendi
Kampala
Another batch of 500 youth, most of them university graduates, Senior Four and Six leavers, have camped at the Askar security service's offices for training ahead of their deployment to war-ravaged Iraq.
A training officer, Vincent, said they want 700 people for posts in Iraq and the US.
He said, "The jobs are there waiting for you guys. Just make sure you appear here on May 1, at six o'clock in the morning armed with a passport and sh200,000 for fingerprint, medical and for opening of a bank account."
The recruitment was approved by the internal affairs ministry and security agencies. The firm plans to carry out another recruitment exercise at their offices in Bukoto on May 1. Several commuter taxis were ferrying people to the premises.
The security firm last year said it would recruit 3,000 people in intervals of three months. The youth are said to be on demand by companies that won multi-billion dollar rebuilding contracts in the oil-rich country.
The bulk of security contract workers in Iraq is made of former army and marine corps from the US and Britain, but because of the increasing demand recruitment expanded to South Africa and Uganda.
Askar was last year sub-contracted by Bob Kasango's company, Hall and Partners, to recruit Ugandans for work in Iraq.
Askar belongs to Kellen Kayonga and Jovia Akandwanaho, Salim Saleh's wife.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200604200365.html

Great :? just a matter of time before we start hearing black people being killed and blown up on a daily basis!!! Cheap dispensable labour I guess!!! :P

What I find interesting is that they have targeted Graduates, again draining Uganda of its intellectuals and professionals. Can't be a good thing. The only saving grace is whether these people will earn what they can and return home with the money. Or will they assimulate into Iraqi culture.

Hopefully they'll take the money and go home, I don't think the chances of assimulation are high. I should think the chances of being kidnapped and or killed are greater. Isn't this faustian pact the same one made with those young Americans who wish to go to college but cannot afford it- "Put your neck on the line for uncle Sam, and get enough to pay for college"

Interesting,

I was appraochback in 2004 to go an work in Iraqfor an oil firm from the US due to my background and alsoknowledge of arabic. Monthly salary was about $45,000, that is forty five thousand a month, tax free. In a year you can pull in about $540,000. I was about to go but was discouraged from by people and also the images of beheadings I saw on TV. Had friends from Sudan who left from Washington DC and they are still there working. But my neck is more precious even though I could have paid uncle some the debts I owed him in like two weeks worth of work. I would hate to be on TV forced to condemn uncle Sam and begging Blair and Bush to withdraw or being that people over there are racist they might behead a brother on the spot.

Common occurence I see of college graduates all over these these days. What you study in school has no application whatsoever in jobs after graduation. Hope they are quick on their feet head and heart. Iraq seem to have no forgiveness for the weak or doubters.