The Ugandan Embassy in Russia has released the names of 11 Ugandans confirmed dead after being recruited into the Russian military and deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The list, released by Russian authorities following persistent demands by relatives seeking information about their missing family members, does not indicate when the victims died.
The revelations are contained in an October 17 letter written by Uganda’s head of mission in Moscow, Ambassador Moses Kizige, to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala, Mr Waswa Bagiire.
The deceased have been identified as Ronald Bugiri, John Male, Francis Ngabirano, Innocent Agaba, Levi Kasule, Bigirwa Mugisha, Richard Twine, Junior Moses Mawejje, Pius Byamugisha, David Buyondo and Geofrey Kamugira.
Their relatives have previously raised concerns that the victims were lured to Russia with promises of lucrative civilian jobs, including positions as security guards and drivers, only to find themselves recruited into the military and deployed to the frontline after limited military training.
The circumstances surrounding their recruitment and deaths remain unclear and the conditions under which they were deployed.
Ambassador Kizige reportedly began pursuing the matter in August after receiving several telephone calls from a one Innocent Kato, who was representing families of Ugandans believed to have joined the Russian military.
Mr Kato is said to have provided passport details of the missing Ugandans, which the ambassador used to verify their identities through Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration.
Missing Ugandans
In a separate development, the authorities have also released the names of 16 Ugandans whose whereabouts remain unknown amid the fighting.
They are Maxima Tindyebwa, Darius Twebaze, Alex Katureebe, Miro Mukasa, Eric Kwesiga, Kosiaa Kusima, Johnson Kakuru, Edwin Musaasizi, Vicent Musisi, Nelson Mugyenyi, Alex Akanshabira, David Kiwanuka Ssekisibo, Henry Rwakirizi Bamutina, Stephen Muhame, William Kyoffa, and Nelson Lukwita.
According to the embassy, Russian authorities had not traced their bodies or identified any of them as prisoners of war.
The embassy said the cases were documented in an investigation conducted in February into the recruitment of African nationals into the conflict.
The findings also identify five Ugandans who are reportedly still serving in the Russian military. They are Rogers Mwebaze, Evarist Barigye, Honest Mugabi, Eric Kisakye and Ronald Samula Tenywa.
The developments highlight the growing concerns surrounding the recruitment of Ugandans and other African nationals into the Russian military, with families seeking government intervention to establish the whereabouts of their relatives.
When contacted last evening for comment, Mr Bagiire declined to discuss the matter.
‘I have no comment as of now,’ he said briefly.