Government is expected to report to Parliament next week on 121 Ugandans allegedly recruited into the Russian military, amid concerns about citizens reportedly held as prisoners of war or receiving treatment in Russia.
Government is expected to present a detailed report to Parliament next week on Ugandans reportedly caught up in the Russia-Ukraine war, following concerns over citizens allegedly recruited into the Russian military under unclear circumstances.
Second Deputy Prime Minister Crispus Kiyonga made the commitment after Rukiga County MP Patrick Katabaazi Kiconco tabled a list of 121 Ugandans he alleges were forcibly recruited into the Russian army.
Kiconco also presented lists of Ugandans reportedly held as prisoners of war in Ukraine and others receiving treatment in Russian military hospitals.
The documents were accompanied by letters from families appealing to the government to intervene and establish the whereabouts and safety of their relatives.
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth directed the government to account for the affected Ugandans and provide Parliament with a comprehensive update on the measures being taken to assist them.
The matter also sparked debate over how Parliament should describe the circumstances under which the Ugandans travelled to Russia.
Oboth directed that parliamentary records describe the individuals as having travelled to Russia under unclear circumstances, following an objection by Kajwengye to the use of the term “duress”, which implies that they were forced or coerced.
Some legislators called for the matter to be handled in line with the government's commitment to report back to Parliament.
MP Gonzaga Ssewungu objected to reopening the discussion before the government presented its response, which was expected on October 20, 2026.
Kiyonga's commitment is expected to provide details of government investigations, the status of the affected Ugandans and possible measures to secure their safety and facilitate their return home where necessary.
The concerns emerge amid reports of foreign nationals being recruited into the Russian military to fight in the ongoing war against Ukraine. Some Ugandans and their families have reportedly sought assistance after relatives travelled to Russia in circumstances that remain unclear.
The parliamentary submission has renewed calls for the government to establish how the affected citizens were recruited, determine whether any were coerced or misled, and work with relevant authorities to establish their whereabouts and welfare.
The government is now expected to provide Parliament with a detailed account of its findings and the action taken, as families await answers about the safety of their relatives.