The Ugandan authorities have received confirmation of the deaths of 11 of their citizens recruited into the Russian army to participate in the war against Ukraine. Another 16 Ugandans are listed as missing and presumed dead. Thus, the total number of dead and likely dead reached 27 people.
Reuters reported this on October 29, according to diplomatic correspondence between the Ugandan embassy in Moscow and the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An official of the Ugandan foreign ministry confirmed the authenticity of the document to the agency.
In a letter dated October 17, Uganda's Ambassador to Russia Moses Kizige reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry provided information about citizens of the country who entered service in the Russian army. The death of 11 people has been officially confirmed, while the bodies of 16 others could not be found. According to available information, the missing are also not listed among prisoners of war.
As the Ugandan publication The Observer clarifies, the embassy contacted the Russian authorities on August 19 after numerous requests from relatives of the missing. The Russian Foreign Ministry's response was received on October 8 through diplomatic channels.
In addition, the Russian side reported five citizens of Uganda who continue to serve in the Russian army. According to the embassy, they are expected to be discharged after the expiration of their current contracts. One more Ugandan was demobilized, but his further whereabouts remain unknown.
Ambassador Kizige asked the Ugandan Foreign Ministry to contact the families of the deceased to arrange the payments due to them. Relatives of other citizens who might have ended up in the Russian army were advised to provide the embassy with passport details to establish their whereabouts.
Concern is growing in Uganda over the recruitment of citizens to participate in Russia's war against Ukraine. According to local media reports, some men went to Russia after promises of well-paid civilian work, in particular as drivers and security guards. However, upon arrival they were conscripted into military service and sent to the front.
The Ugandan publication New Vision reports that the issue was also discussed in the country's parliament. Lawmakers demanded that the government explain the circumstances under which Ugandans ended up in the Russian army and determine the fate of the missing citizens.
Similar recruitment cases have been recorded in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. Relatives of recruited citizens from these countries also reported job offers that subsequently turned into being sent to war.
In 2025, Ukrainian authorities stated that over 1,400 citizens of about 36 African states were fighting on Russia's side. According to Ukrainian data, some of the foreigners were recruited through deception.
Russian authorities deny illegal recruitment of citizens of African countries. The Russian Embassy in Kampala did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication of the Reuters material.
