The Ugandan government has announced that 21 citizens who were trafficked to Myanmar and held in forced labour camps are expected to return home next week. They were lured with promises of lucrative employment, only to find themselves trapped in compounds where victims are forced to participate in online scams. Government spokesperson Allan Kasujja said negotiations between the Ugandan and Myanmar governments were nearing completion.
The victims were among many Ugandans who have been targeted by international criminal syndicates in recent years. According to Kasujja, one of the victims, Felix Adupe, was released by Myanmar authorities on Thursday and handed over to Edan, a non-governmental organisation providing medical care and safe custody. The victims are expected to be handed over to Uganda’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Betty Bigombe, in Yangon before being repatriated.
The repatriation efforts come as Uganda continues to grapple with the growing threat of human trafficking. Recent reports indicate that Myanmar has emerged as a major hub for international human trafficking networks targeting foreign nationals through fraudulent employment opportunities. Many of the victims are young information technology graduates promised well-paying jobs in Thailand, Cambodia and China.
However, upon arrival, they are trafficked into rebel-held areas of Myanmar, where their passports and mobile phones are confiscated, cutting them off from their families and restricting their freedom of movement. They are subsequently confined in overcrowded dormitories and subjected to forced labour, with criminal syndicates compelling them to operate online scams.
Some victims are reportedly required to generate as much as $10,000 per person daily. The government has urged Ugandans to exercise extreme caution when pursuing employment opportunities abroad, particularly those involving travel to Russia and other foreign destinations. Kasujja advised prospective migrant workers to scrutinise job offers, verify prospective employers and ask difficult questions before committing to travel.
This is not the first time Uganda has mounted rescue and repatriation operations for citizens trapped in these criminal compounds. In May 2024, 23 Ugandans were repatriated after being held in Tachileik since 2023 and forced to participate in cryptocurrency scams. In May 2025, another 26 Ugandans were repatriated following negotiations involving Myanmar and Thai authorities.
The impending return of the 21 victims highlights the growing threat of human trafficking, with Ugandans increasingly falling prey to international criminal networks exploiting their search for employment. Hundreds of Ugandans have reportedly been lured to the Middle East, Asia and Russia with promises of lucrative jobs, only to end up trapped in forced labour, domestic servitude, cybercrime compounds and conflict zones.
Key points
- 21 Ugandans to be repatriated from Myanmar slave camps next week
- Uganda urges citizens to exercise caution when pursuing employment opportunities abroad
- Myanmar emerges as major hub for international human trafficking networks targeting foreign nationals
