MP Urges Probe into Ugandan Youths Recruited for Russia's War Effort

A Member of Parliament has raised alarm over the alleged recruitment of Ugandan youths for military service in Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Rukiga County MP Patrick Katabaazi stated in Parliament that he has received reports of individuals being deceived with promises of lucrative employment, only to find themselves deployed to the battlefield.

Katabaazi expressed his concern during a parliamentary session, highlighting the case of one of his constituents who was misled into leaving Uganda for what was presented as a good job opportunity, but ultimately ended up fighting under the Russian army in Ukraine. He is calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to thoroughly investigate these recruitment networks.

“Government must investigate how Ugandans are being wooed to join the Russian army. Our young people are being trafficked and finding themselves on the war front in Ukraine,” Katabaazi told the House. He urged the ministry to detail the measures being implemented to safeguard Ugandans seeking employment opportunities abroad and to prevent further exploitation.

These concerns echo previous reports, including a Daily Monitor article from March 2026, which suggested that at least 79 Ugandans might be trapped in Russia after allegedly being recruited through fraudulent overseas employment schemes. Families reported that some recruits were promised security jobs but were subsequently sent to the frontlines.

In June, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Permanent Secretary, Vincent Bagiire, reportedly instructed Uganda’s embassy in Moscow to look into allegations of Ugandans being trafficked to Russia and deployed for combat. The situation underscores the vulnerability of job seekers to deceptive recruitment practices, particularly when attractive salaries are offered without clear information about the actual nature of the work.

As of the time of reporting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not yet responded to the specific concerns raised by the MP. The Russia-Ukraine war has increasingly brought to light the recruitment of foreign nationals, with similar reports emerging from various African nations detailing alleged exploitation of citizens through recruitment offers linked to the conflict.

Source: Nile Post