Ugandan security agencies have intercepted a clandestine operation that sought to recruit 100 Ugandan military veterans, including former Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers and private military contractors with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, to fight as mercenaries in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.
According to security sources, the group had been promised lucrative contracts offering up to US $6,250 (about UGX 22.2 million) per month.
The scheme reportedly targeted men with prior combat experience, and the first batch was due to be deployed before the recruitment network was dismantled.
Authorities say the recruits were lured with promises of high salaries, foreign travel, and possible long-term settlement abroad.
Investigations suggest the operation had international links and was being coordinated by individuals operating both within Uganda and overseas.
Following the interception, Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba issued a stern warning to all Ugandans, declaring:
“Ugandans are ABSOLUTELY forbidden from being recruited to participate in the Russia–Ukraine war. Anyone who dares will be punished severely.”
The Uganda Police and UPDF have launched a joint probe to trace the masterminds behind the recruitment drive.
Officials are also working with immigration and foreign affairs departments to establish whether any recruits had already been processed for travel.
In some cases, students and migrant workers in Ukraine have been coerced into signing combat contracts under threat of deportation.
Uganda’s interception comes amid increasing global scrutiny of the recruitment of foreign fighters for the war, which has now entered its fourth year.
Security analysts warn that beyond the individual risks, such schemes could entangle neutral countries in geopolitical disputes and expose veterans to legal consequences under international law.
Authorities have urged Ugandans to be vigilant and report any suspicious recruitment offers, particularly those promising unusually high pay for overseas security work.
