A Ugandan national, deceived into working in Russia, calls for government intervention after being recruited into the Russian army and held as a prisoner of war in Ukraine.
Akantorana Richard, a Ugandan national currently held as a prisoner of war in Ukraine, has made an emotional appeal for his government to assist in his return home after being misled into traveling to Russia. Richard, along with other Ugandans, was promised employment in supermarkets but ended up being recruited into the Russian army.
Richard’s story, which he shared from his location in Ukraine, highlights the growing concern about human trafficking and deceptive recruitment practices targeting Ugandans seeking work abroad. He and other victims were allegedly misled by unlicensed agents who promised lucrative overseas job opportunities, only for them to find themselves trapped in the Russian military.
“My country Uganda, please, we have a lot of Ugandans who were deceived here who want to come back home,” Richard pleaded. “Please do the necessary thing to bring them back home.” His plea comes as other Ugandans, who traveled under similar circumstances, remain missing or imprisoned, with no clear answers about their whereabouts.
The Ugandan authorities have not yet responded to Richard’s urgent request, raising concerns about the fate of the others caught in the same situation. In a video shared earlier, Richard, a father of two daughters, explained that he left Uganda in search of better opportunities to support his family. He was approached by an individual who promised high-paying jobs in Russia, including positions in supermarkets, factories, and airport security. Believing the offer was legitimate, Richard took out a loan from a savings cooperative to finance his travel.
However, upon arriving in Russia, Richard and his companions quickly learned the grim reality. Instead of the promised civilian work, they were taken to Balashikha, a city in Russia, where they were informed they would be forced to join the Russian military. Richard recalled, “I didn’t know we were going to Balashikha. I knew we were going to the supermarket. On reaching there, we saw the gates opening and they said, ‘Sorry guys, you are joining the Russian military.’”
When they protested, they were threatened at gunpoint and coerced into signing papers that bound them to the Russian army. The group was then transported overnight to an undisclosed location, where they were held underground in harsh conditions, with only biscuits and water for sustenance. Richard recounted how the situation worsened, leading some members of the group to contemplate suicide, though he refused.
“I have escaped by God’s grace. The others are in jail somewhere; I don’t know where,” Richard said, sharing his relief after escaping and encountering soldiers from Ukraine’s 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
Richard’s appeal brings attention to the deceptive practices used to exploit vulnerable individuals seeking work abroad. His case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unlicensed recruitment agencies, who continue to prey on the hopes of people looking for better opportunities.
As Richard waits for assistance to return home, the fate of his fellow countrymen remains uncertain, sparking further calls for government intervention to safeguard Ugandans abroad and prevent similar exploitation in the future.
