I boldly propose that yet again, Ugandan Boots- albeit farm boots, could hit the farm grounds of the United States.
Why and how so? First off, it is a matter of public record that the United States has had a Perennial farm labor shortage PROBLEM; how so? Through the triggering, implementation and actualization of dormant provisions of a very relevant Agreement between the United States Government and the East African Community- and therefore, Uganda by extension.
The United States and East African Community Trade and Investment Framework Agreement "TIFA", 2008 recognizes the increased importance of "Trade in Services" ("TiSA") between the East African Community and the United States. Moreover, under Article 1 of this "TIFA", the United States and the East African Community ("EAC") agreed on the need to "expand and diversify trade in Services" between the "EAC" and the U.S.
The significance of the existence of such an Agreement is this: it is an opportunity for Uganda as a state party to this "TIFA", to offer "Trade in Services"- LABOR, specifically farm labor to the United States. The benefit would be twofold:
On the Ugandan side, it is an opportunity for the youth and others in the working age, to alleviate unemployment and poverty. Alleviation only because eradication of these twin evils is utopic. On the U.S. side of things, this would be the much needed IMMEDIATE STOP-GAP MEASURE pending and in lieu of substantive reform of the H-2A Seasonal Farm Labor Program and or it's overhaul.
I say MUCH NEEDED because asides from various administration's failing to find a Solution to the farm labor shortage PROBLEM- with LEGAL LABOR, the Office of American Innovation ("OAI")- tasked by the President of the United States ("POTUS") with finding an innovative Solution to the Problem, is yet to offer one. To be fair to "OAI"- a recent creation, U.S. Government Agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"), the Department of Labor ("DoL"), the Department of Homeland security ("DHS"), the Department of State ("DoS") and the United States Trade
Representative ("USTR")- the author
and signatory to the Agreement
herein (the "TIFA"), have offered no
workable and pragmatic Solution to the LEGAL farm Labor crisis.
The Solution proposed here need not conflict with the existing H-2A Program. On the contrary, it would complement it. What would this entail in real practical terms? It would for instance, among other things, call for the retention of the current experienced but ILLEGAL farm workers, and their LEGALISATION.
It is possible to get Ugandan workers from Entebbe International Airport to "Anywhere USA" with the proper execution of logistics. Without getting into detail, I'll just say that U.S. Government chartered flights are one way to get the job done. In this vein, "USG" could consider the conversion of the C-130 cargo aircraft, and reconfigure it to install palletized seats for Passengers.
This would not be the first time the United States would have such a labor agreement. The post world war II "Bracero Program" was borne out of a Bilateral Labor Agreement ("BLA") between the United States and the Government of Mexico. Our generation will do well to get the said relevant Provisions of "Trade in Services" off the page, and bring them to life- ACTUALIZATION, Operationalization and or Implementation.
CONCLUSION
But why the UGANDAN and not any other? Well, first Ugandans have proven themselves to be worthy of discipline and resilience- in austere environments alongside the U.S. military. If so, the farm fields of the U.S. shouldn't be that much of a stretch.
Second, but perhaps the most crucial point. Ugandans are the only people, the only Nation who pledged to GIVE their LABOR- an endowment from God, to those who need it- "Our neighbours" (See Second Stanza of Uganda National Anthem).
We have no gold nor "black-gold" to give. Only "... our love and LABOUR we GIVE...And to Our neighbours ALL...". This is the National Spirit of the Ugandan- to share this gift of Labor to those who need it- not just on the farms of the U.S. but those of the U.K., the once failing States of Somalia and South Sudan, the Ebola crisis in West Africa and in numerous professions elsewhere.
