Over Forty Ugandan Workers Die Overseas in Five Months

At least 40 Ugandan migrant workers have died in Europe, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and other destinations since January 2026, reigniting concerns about the safety and welfare of thousands of Ugandans seeking employment abroad.

The deaths, documented by Kyeyo Initiative Uganda, a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights and welfare of Ugandan migrant workers, have once again put the spotlight on the risks associated with labour migration.

According to Kenneth Olooka, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of deaths at 11, followed by the UAE with 10. Six Ugandans reportedly died in the United States, while the remaining fatalities were recorded across other labour destination countries including China and Germany.

The study report moreover does not include deaths in countries where young Ugandan professionals are duped with promises of jobs like assembling drones only to end up as cannon fodder on battlefields in wars they knew nothing about before leaving home.

Among the most recent deaths are those of Josephine Olowo and Sheila Kenyana, who died in Saudi Arabia, and Apollo Kaddu Mukasa, who died in Boston, United States. In all three cases, the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear.

Their deaths mirror numerous other cases reported over the years. One such case is that of Hillary Niwetuliko, who travelled to Dubai hoping to secure a better future for his family. According to relatives, he reportedly collapsed while returning from work to his accommodation and was rushed to Rashid Hospital, where he died on February 27.

Months later, his remains were repatriated to Uganda, but the family disputed the official explanation cited only as “natural causes.”


Prince Hassan, a specialist in labour externalisation programmes, says while labour migration has become a lifeline for thousands of unemployed and underemployed Ugandans, untreated medical conditions remain one of the leading causes of death among migrant workers.


Workplace accidents also continue to claim lives. Construction workers frequently face dangers associated with falls from heights, heavy machinery, electrocution and road traffic crashes. Domestic workers, meanwhile, often operate in private homes where labour inspections and oversight are limited.

Extreme weather conditions present another growing threat. Temperatures in parts of the Gulf region regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius during summer, exposing outdoor workers to severe heat stress, dehydration and heatstroke.

Hassan also points to fires in overcrowded worker accommodation facilities as a recurring danger. The 2025 labour camp fire in Kuwait, which reportedly killed several Ugandan workers among dozens of other foreign nationals, revealed the vulnerability of migrant labourers living in congested housing facilities.

According to government figures, more than 350 Ugandans are working abroad, particularly in the Gulf region. Their remittances contribute significantly to household incomes and USD 1.7 billion foreign exchange earnings annually.