Ambassador Kizige Visits Ugandan Trainees in Russian Alabuga Program

Uganda’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Moses Kizige, has visited Ugandan participants enrolled in the Alabuga Start Program in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, as part of ongoing efforts to monitor and support Ugandans living abroad.

The program, which provides industrial and vocational training for young people, has grown significantly since the first five Ugandan girls joined in April 2022. According to the Ambassador, three of the initial participants have since risen to management positions within the special economic zone where the program operates. Currently, an estimated 357 Ugandans are enrolled.

The Ambassador emphasized that the visit was a routine engagement and not a reaction to ongoing criticism on social media and in Western media, which has claimed that Ugandan girls are being taken to Russia for military involvement or drone production.

“There has been a lot of negative propaganda from people who do not understand the program. Our visit was to see conditions on the ground and speak directly to the beneficiaries,” the Ambassador said.

The Alabuga Start Program trains young people aged 18 to 22 in practical industrial skills while offering Russian language lessons and academic progression. After four years, trainees earn diplomas equivalent to university degrees and may proceed to pursue master’s studies, take up employment in Russia, or return home with savings and skills.

The Ambassador cited the example of a 23-year-old trainee from Masaka now earning about $1,200 per month, who has already purchased land and begun building a home for her family.

The government is now seeking to broaden access to the program nationwide. “Most of the current beneficiaries learned about the opportunity online. We want students from all regions, including rural communities, to benefit,” the Ambassador noted. Plans are underway to establish local skilling and orientation centers ahead of the next intake of 540 trainees.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is expected to conduct a further supervision visit in about ten days, led by Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Dan K. Esther Anyakun. The delegation will assess working and living conditions, the program’s economic impact, and opportunities for strengthening collaboration.

Officials also dismissed comparisons to domestic labor recruitment in the Middle East, noting that the Alabuga program provides professional skills, regulated labor standards, and pathways for career advancement.

The Ambassador said the initiative is also part of broader efforts to deepen Uganda’s ties with Russia and other Russian-speaking countries. Uganda recently attained partner state status in BRICS with support from Moscow.

“The demand for this program is growing. If even 2,000 trained Ugandans each earn and remit $1,000 a month, that would send $2 million into Uganda’s economy monthly. This is a long-term investment in our human capital,” the Ambassador said.