Twenty-seven Ugandans who joined Russia's armed forces have been killed or are presumed dead in the war in Ukraine, according to a letter from Uganda's embassy in Moscow to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala, the clearest official tally yet of the toll the conflict is taking on Ugandan recruits.

Reuters, which saw the letter on Thursday, reported that it lists 11 Ugandans as confirmed dead and 16 others whose bodies could not be located anywhere, including among prisoners of war. An official at Uganda's foreign ministry confirmed that the letter was genuine. Russia's embassy in Kampala did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What the embassy was told

The figures came from Russia's own foreign ministry through a "note verbale", a formal diplomatic communication. Ugandan outlet ChimpReports, which also obtained the correspondence, said the embassy had asked Moscow in August for information on Ugandans believed to be in the Russian military, and that the Russian reply was dated October 8.

In his letter, dated October 17, Uganda's head of mission in Moscow, Ambassador Moses Kizige, said the 16 missing men "are effectively dead" and are "also not known to be prisoners of war". He asked the ministry to "urgently notify the families of the deceased".

According to ChimpReports, five Ugandans are still serving in the Russian forces and will be discharged when their contracts end, while a sixth has been released from service.

  • 11 Ugandans confirmed killed
  • 16 missing and presumed dead
  • 5 still serving under contract

Questions in Parliament

The disclosure follows pressure in Uganda's Parliament, where Rukiga County MP Patrick Katabaazi Kiconco raised the matter on October 19, citing reports that 121 Ugandans had been recruited. Families have long complained that men were promised well-paid security or civilian jobs abroad, only to find themselves signing military contracts and being sent to the front line.

The embassy's letter does not say how many Ugandans have been recruited in total, when they signed up or whether they joined willingly, leaving the true toll unclear.

A regional problem

Uganda is the latest African country to count its dead. Ukraine said last year that more than 1,400 citizens from about three dozen African countries were fighting on Russia's side, some recruited through deception. Ghana said in February that more than 50 of its citizens had been killed after being lured into the war, and South Africa has investigated networks accused of duping young men into enlisting.

Kenya has also been badly affected. Kenyan intelligence has reported that more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited, and families in several counties have buried, or are still waiting to hear about, relatives who went to Russia for jobs. The Ugandan figures emerged as African leaders, President William Ruto among them, attended this week's Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.

Russian authorities have repeatedly denied illegally recruiting Africans to fight in Ukraine.

Photos: ChimpReports (courtesy photo); Ed Ram/Getty Images via OkayAfrica. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.