Over 30 Ugandan nationals are allegedly trapped on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war after being deceived through a trafficking scheme, according to families demanding urgent government intervention for their repatriation.
In December 2025, Ugandan nationals departed on tourist visas with promises of lucrative security work in Russia. Instead, they were transported to military training facilities and forcibly conscripted into active combat. Families report the last contact was in mid-January, with many feared dead.
Elizabeth Tabamubi’s husband, Byamugisha, was among those recruited through WhatsApp groups promising monthly salaries equivalent to 7.3 million Ugandan Shillings. Within four days of arrival in Russia, he was coerced into signing military contracts and deployed to battle zones.
Broader Trafficking Crisis
Similar recruitment stories have emerged across Uganda, targeting former security professionals with experience in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq. A February 2026 report by Swiss organization INPACT estimated over 1,000 Africans have been trafficked to the Russia-Ukraine war.
