Uganda says 27 of its citizens who enlisted to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine have been killed or are presumed dead, according to a diplomatic letter from Uganda’s embassy in Moscow to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The letter, seen by Reuters on Thursday, October 29, lists 11 Ugandans whose deaths have been confirmed and 16 others whose bodies have not been located, including among prisoners of war.
The embassy said it received the information from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a diplomatic communication known as a note verbale.
An official at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the authenticity of the letter to Reuters.
Russia’s embassy in Kampala had not immediately responded to a request for comment by the time of publication.
The reported deaths highlight growing concerns about the recruitment of African nationals into Russia’s military as the war in Ukraine continues.
Reports have emerged from several African countries of men allegedly being lured to Russia with promises of employment before ending up on the front lines in Ukraine.
The recruitment has triggered concern in countries including Kenya, Ghana and South Africa, where authorities and families have raised questions about how citizens were recruited and the circumstances in which they were sent to fight.
In November 2025, Ukraine said more than 1,400 citizens from about three dozen African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces on its territory. Some, Ukrainian authorities said, had been recruited through deception.
Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine.
The latest figures raise concerns about the fate of Ugandans who travelled to Russia and subsequently joined its military, although the letter does not provide details about how each of the 27 men was recruited or the circumstances surrounding their reported deaths.
The report also does not establish how many Ugandans may still be serving with Russian forces or how many are being held as prisoners of war.
