The names of 27 Ugandans who have died or are presumed dead while serving in the Russian military have been disclosed in diplomatic correspondence from Uganda’s Embassy in Moscow, highlighting the toll of the Russia-Ukraine war on families whose relatives travelled abroad.
According to the embassy, Russian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 11 Ugandan nationals and classified another 16 as missing, with their whereabouts unknown and their survival considered unlikely.
The findings were contained in a letter dated October 17, 2026, written by Uganda’s Head of Mission in Moscow, Ambassador Moses Kizige, to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kizige said the information had been obtained from Russian authorities following inquiries by the Ugandan diplomatic mission.
Moscow communicated its findings through a Note Verbale dated October 8, 2026, following the embassy’s efforts to trace Ugandans recruited into the Russian armed forces and deployed to what the Russian government officially calls the “Zone of Special Military Operations.”
Kizige explained that the inquiry began after telephone conversations in August with a man identified as Innocent Kato, who introduced himself as the chief petitioner representing families of Ugandans believed to have joined the Russian military.
Following those discussions, the embassy obtained passport details from Kato and submitted them to Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration for verification. After confirming the documents, the mission formally approached Russian authorities on August 19, seeking information about the individuals.
The response outlined several categories of Ugandans associated with the Russian military, including those whose deaths had been confirmed, personnel whose whereabouts remained unknown, nationals still serving and one individual who had been discharged.
11 Ugandans confirmed dead
Russian authorities provided the embassy with the identities of 11 Ugandans whose deaths had been formally recorded.
The deceased are Ronald Bugiri, John Male, Francis Ngabirano, Innocent Agaba, Levi Kasule, Bigirwa Mugisa, Richard Twine, Junior Moses Mawejje, Pius Byamugisha, David Buyondo and Godfrey Kamugira.
The diplomatic communication also identified 16 Ugandans whose status remained unresolved because they had been reported missing. Their names are Maxima Tindyebwa, Darius Twebaze, Alex Katurebe, Miiro Mukasa, Eric Kwesiga, Kosiaa Kusima, Johnson Kakuru, Edwin Musasizi, Vicent Musisi, Nelson Mugyenyi, Alex Akanshabira, David Kiwanuka Ssekisibo, Henry Rwakiziri Bamutina, Stephen Muhame, William Kyoffa and Nelson Lukwita.
Although the 16 individuals had not been officially listed among the confirmed fatalities, the embassy indicated that their disappearance was unlikely to end with their safe return. Their bodies had not been located, and the mission said there was no information indicating that they were being held as prisoners of war.
“It is important to note that the persons listed in this category, are effectively dead, but their bodies could not be located anywhere,” Kizige wrote.
“They are also not known to be prisoners of war.”
The classification presents a difficult situation for the affected families, who may have to pursue official recognition of their relatives’ deaths without recovered remains. It also raises questions about how the families can establish eligibility for compensation and other benefits associated with the deaths.
Five Ugandans remain in Russian military
The embassy’s report identified five other Ugandan nationals who were still serving in the Russian armed forces at the time of the communication.
They are Rogers Mwebaze, Evarist Barigye, Honest Mugabi, Eric Kisakye and Ronald Samula Tenywa.
According to Kizige, their continued service was linked to the terms of their military contracts, which were expected to determine when they would leave the Russian armed forces.
“The Ugandans in this category shall be discharged as and when their contracts expire,” the ambassador reported.
The letter did not provide the dates on which the contracts were signed, how long they were due to run or whether the individuals had knowingly and voluntarily enlisted for military service. It therefore remains unclear when the five men might be eligible for discharge.
A separate entry in the correspondence concerned Robert Tumwebaze, who had reportedly been released from Russian military service.
Kizige said Tumwebaze had been transferred to the Ugandan diplomatic mission after receiving treatment at a military hospital in Nizhni Novgorod. However, he subsequently escaped from embassy staff at a railway station.
The correspondence did not explain the circumstances that led to the incident or establish Tumwebaze’s whereabouts after he fled.
Embassy seeks contact with families for compensation
Uganda’s diplomatic mission is seeking urgent contact with the relatives of deceased nationals to help them pursue benefits arising from their family members’ deaths.
Kizige asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the affected families so that they could begin the necessary procedures for claiming the money and other benefits due to them.
“I wish to request you, to urgently notify the families of the deceased, such that they expedite the process of claiming the benefits that are due to the deceased,” wrote Kizige.
The ambassador also drew attention to three previously reported deaths involving Ugandans whose relatives had not contacted the embassy.
“I further wish to remind you that we have never received any communication from the families of Baker Mwesigye, Alex Mutesigensi, and Edson Kamwesigye, whose deaths were confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense,” he noted.
The three cases appear to be separate from the 11 deaths newly listed in the diplomatic communication. If they are additional cases, the correspondence identifies 14 Ugandans whose deaths have been confirmed by Russian authorities, although the report does not provide a consolidated national death toll.
The mission called on families trying to trace relatives suspected of joining the Russian military to submit their passport details, which would enable the embassy to make further inquiries with Russian authorities.
Parliament raises alarm over 121 Ugandans recruited
The diplomatic report comes as Uganda’s Parliament examines reports that substantial numbers of Ugandans have joined Russian forces fighting against Ukraine.
On October 19, Rukiga County MP Patrick Katabaazi Kiconco raised the matter in Parliament, citing information that 121 Ugandans had reportedly been recruited into the Russian armed forces.
The legislator presented figures suggesting that 48 Ugandans had been killed, but those deaths had not been independently verified. He also raised concerns about three nationals reportedly being held as prisoners of war and seven others receiving treatment in Russian hospitals.
The embassy’s findings offer a more detailed account of specific individuals based on information supplied through official Russian diplomatic channels. However, they do not establish the total number of Ugandans recruited, deployed or killed in the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Reports of Ugandans travelling to Russia for purported employment have raised concerns about recruitment arrangements targeting young people seeking work, former security personnel and military veterans.
In August 2025, Ugandan security agencies intercepted suspected recruits who were preparing to travel to Russia through Entebbe International Airport. Investigators linked the case to networks allegedly offering substantial salaries for overseas security jobs.
Some recruits and their relatives have subsequently alleged that promises of civilian employment gave way to military contracts and deployment to combat positions in Ukraine.
As of March 2026, it was reported that at least 79 Ugandans were feared to be stranded in Russia after allegedly being recruited through misleading employment offers.
The issue has also attracted attention across Africa. In November 2025, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that at least 1,436 nationals from 36 African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces. He warned governments about recruitment practices that could expose vulnerable citizens to the conflict.
The growing number of reported cases has intensified concerns about possible human trafficking, the terms and legality of foreign military recruitment, the safety of Ugandans abroad and the government’s ability to assist those seeking to return home.
