Ugandan workers employed in mining operations in Kisangani, Tshopo Province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are calling on the Ugandan government to intervene following reports that some of their colleagues have died and were buried in Congo.
The workers claim that families in Uganda were not given an opportunity to repatriate the remains of their relatives for burial in their ancestral homes.
Morris Berinde and Hamza Jemba, both from Kitagwenda District, allege that a Chinese-owned mining company, Wen Gang, has failed to facilitate the return of the deceased workers’ remains to Uganda.
The workers are urging the Ugandan government to investigate the reported deaths, establish the identities of those who died and determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths and burials.
They also want the government to engage the mining company and relevant Congolese authorities over the possible repatriation of the remains.
The workers say the reported deaths have heightened concerns about their own safety while working in the DRC. They are calling for stronger protection and improved consular support for Ugandan nationals employed in foreign mining operations.
For the affected families, the reported inability to recover the remains of their relatives has raised concerns over their right to know what happened to their loved ones and to give them a dignified burial.
However, the allegations have not been independently verified. The identities and number of the reported deceased workers, as well as the circumstances surrounding their deaths and burials, remain unclear.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the facts.
The mining company, Ugandan authorities and relevant Congolese officials had not responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
The case raises broader concerns about the protection of Ugandans who travel abroad for employment in high-risk sectors, particularly mining, and the support available to them and their families in the event of death or other emergencies.