Twenty-one Ugandans trapped in Myanmar slave camps to be repatriated

What the report says

Uganda says 21 citizens trafficked to Myanmar and held in forced-labour compounds are expected to be repatriated next week, according to The Observer. Government spokesperson Allan Kasujja said the group had been lured overseas with promises of well-paid work, but instead ended up in facilities where victims were reportedly forced to carry out online scam operations. The planned return follows months of captivity and ongoing talks between the Ugandan and Myanmar governments.

Kasujja said the handover is expected to take place in Yangon, where the victims would be received by Uganda’s ambassador to Myanmar, Betty Bigombe, before being flown home. Foreign Affairs minister Adonia Ayebare said one victim, Felix Adupe, was freed by Myanmar authorities on Thursday and transferred to Edan, a non-governmental organisation that provides medical care and safe custody. The article also noted that some Ugandans were deceived by relatives or by job offers that appeared to involve travel to other countries in Asia.

The report places the case in the wider context of trafficking networks operating across Southeast Asia, which Ugandan officials say have increasingly targeted job seekers with false recruitment promises. It also recalls earlier repatriations, including groups returned from Myanmar in 2024 and 2025. Separately, the government said 12 Ugandans arrested in Zambia in August remain in custody while authorities work to verify identities and arrange their return. Officials used the case to warn Ugandans to check job offers carefully before travelling abroad.