Rukiga County Member of Parliament Patrick Katabaazi has asked the government to investigate reports that Ugandan youths are being lured to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs before being deployed to fight in the war against Ukraine.
Katabaazi raised the concern during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth, saying one of his constituents was reportedly deceived into travelling abroad for employment but ended up on the battlefield.
CUE IN: MP KATABAAZI
The legislator has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the alleged recruitment networks and explain measures being taken to protect Ugandans seeking employment abroad.
His concerns come amid reports of Ugandans allegedly being recruited through fraudulent job offers, with some families fearing their relatives have become trapped in Russia.
In March 2026, reports indicated that relatives feared at least 79 Ugandans had been caught up in such recruitment schemes.
The reports have raised concerns about human trafficking and the exploitation of jobseekers seeking better employment opportunities abroad.
Katabaazi is now calling for urgent government intervention to establish how the recruitment is taking place and prevent more Ugandans from falling victim to the alleged schemes.