Twenty-one Ugandans Trapped in Myanmar Slave Camps Set for Repatriation

Twenty-one Ugandans who fell victim to human trafficking rings and endured months of forced labour in Myanmar are expected to return home next week. Government spokesperson Allan Kasujja stated that the victims were initially lured abroad with promises of high-paying jobs, only to find themselves trapped in compounds run by international criminal syndicates.

Many of these victims, often young IT graduates, were promised legitimate employment in countries like China or Thailand. Instead, they were diverted into rebel-held regions of Myanmar where their passports and phones were confiscated. The trapped individuals were forced to participate in cybercrime and online scams, facing harsh quotas and isolation. One victim, Felix Adupe, was recently released by Myanmar authorities and placed in the care of an NGO providing medical support, as confirmed by Foreign Affairs ministry official Ambassador Adonia Ayebare.

Negotiations between Ugandan and Myanmar officials are nearing completion. Upon finalization, the group will be handed over to Uganda’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Betty Bigombe, in Yangon before making the journey back.

Authorities have strongly cautioned citizens to exercise extreme vigilance when considering overseas employment offers. Traffickers frequently use trusted acquaintances or relatives to deceive job seekers, routing them through dangerous regions across Asia and the Middle East where they face exploitation, abuse, and human rights violations.

Read more details on this story at The Observer.