Ugandan human rights organizations have launched a coordinated campaign to prevent further trafficking of nationals into active war zones, specifically targeting the recruitment networks that have deceived over 30 Ugandans into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The campaign emerged after reports that Ugandan nationals were promised lucrative security work in Russia, only to be forcibly conscripted into military service and deployed to combat zones. Families have reported losing contact since January 2026, with many feared killed in action.
Elizabeth Tabamubi’s husband was recruited through WhatsApp job groups with promises of monthly salaries equivalent to 7.3 million Ugandan Shillings, then transported to a Russian military training facility within days. Investigators identified that recruitment networks specifically targeted former security professionals with experience in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq.
