Outrage as Migrant Workers Group Demands Uganda Intervene in Reported Execution of Citizen in Syria
In a strongly worded letter addressed to government authorities, the organisation denounced the reported execution as “barbaric, inhumane, and illegal,” arguing that the circumstances surrounding Ajong’s presence, arrest, trial, and punishment in Syria raise serious questions about legality, due process, and state responsibility.
Kampala, Uganda-
Migrant Workers Voice Organisation has issued a scathing protest to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs over reports that a Ugandan national, Vicky Ajong, was executed in Syria after being accused of killing her employer, calling for immediate, high-level diplomatic action to establish the facts and protect Ugandan citizens abroad.
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In a strongly worded letter addressed to government authorities, the organisation denounced the reported execution as “barbaric, inhumane, and illegal,” arguing that the circumstances surrounding Ajong’s presence, arrest, trial, and punishment in Syria raise serious questions about legality, due process, and state responsibility. The group urged Kampala to move swiftly through formal diplomatic channels to investigate the case and seek redress.
Call for Embassy Action
Migrant Workers Voice specifically appealed to the Ugandan Embassy in Cairo—accredited to Syria—to act “with utmost urgency” to verify the reports, engage Syrian authorities, and account for the treatment of the Ugandan citizen. The organisation warned that any delay would amount to a failure of consular protection obligations owed to nationals abroad.
“The government of Uganda must act immediately, without hesitation or delay,” the letter states, calling for diplomatic demarches, engagement through multilateral platforms, and the use of United Nations mechanisms where necessary.
Questions Over Legal Status and Due Process
Central to the organisation’s protest is the assertion that Uganda has no bilateral labour agreement with Syria, rendering the transfer of Ugandan workers to the country irregular and potentially criminal. The group argues that any recruitment or transportation of Ugandans to Syria amounts to human trafficking and forced labour under international law, including the Palermo Protocol.
It further contends that Ajong’s alleged employment lacked legal foundation, claiming there was no valid labour contract and questioning whether she was subjected to coercion, abuse, or exploitative conditions—risks widely documented in unregulated migration routes.
The organisation also raised alarm over reported denial of legal representation, arguing that the absence of counsel violates fundamental fair-trial guarantees enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and customary international law.
Vienna Convention and Consular Protection
Invoking the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), Migrant Workers Voice emphasized that states retain the right and duty to protect their citizens abroad regardless of their travel or employment status. It insisted that Uganda is entitled to seek access, information, and intervention in cases involving its nationals facing severe penalties overseas.
The group further cited Syria’s prolonged instability, the lack of a permanent Ugandan diplomatic mission on the ground, and heightened risks to migrant workers as factors that should have triggered enhanced safeguards rather than punitive action.
International Pressure Mounts
Beyond Kampala, the organisation appealed to international and regional bodies—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN Human Rights Council, and the African Union—to intervene urgently. It called for independent observers, transparency around the judicial process, and measures to prevent further harm to migrant workers.
In a stark warning, the letter cautioned that silence or inaction by responsible authorities would amount to complicity, urging confirmation of concrete diplomatic engagement within 24 hours.
Broader Concerns Over Labour Migration
The case has intensified scrutiny of Uganda’s labour export practices, particularly to high-risk destinations lacking formal agreements or adequate protections. Rights advocates say it underscores systemic vulnerabilities faced by Ugandan migrant workers, especially women, who often travel through informal channels and remain beyond effective consular reach.
As the government weighs its response, the situation has become a litmus test for Uganda’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens abroad and enforcing accountability in international labour migration. The Foreign Affairs Ministry had not issued an official statement by press time, but pressure continues to mount for swift clarification and action.
