Six Ugandans lost their lives in a tragic inferno over the weekend in Kuwait’s Al-Riggai residential building, a disaster that has once again exposed the harsh and often fatal conditions under which many Ugandan migrant workers live and work in the Middle East.
The fire, which broke out at around 4:00 a.m., quickly engulfed the building, giving the victims little to no time to escape.
The deceased have been identified as Gota Wilberforce, Fred Ndawula, Esawu Gaganga, Ian Jonathan Tumusiime, Harold Kafeero, and Hudson Kikomeko. All were reportedly involved in online merchandise distribution.
The cause of the fire is not yet officially confirmed, but initial reports suggest that it began when an air conditioning unit on the fifth floor burst into flames, spreading quickly to the sixth floor where the Ugandans resided.
According to Kenneth Oloka, head of the Kyeyo Initiative Uganda — a group that advocates for the rights and welfare of Ugandans working abroad — the incident is just one of many signs that Ugandan workers are being failed by both their recruiters and the government.
“Two of the bodies, those of Ndawula and Tumusiime, were charred beyond recognition. We are awaiting DNA tests to begin repatriation,” Oloka said.
“We have engaged our embassy and the company that facilitated their travel, but the costs and processes are overwhelming.”
Five additional bodies of Ugandans remain stranded in Saudi Arabia, as their families struggle to raise between UGX 16 million and 20 million required to return each body home.
With these new deaths, the total number of Ugandans who have died in Arab countries since the beginning of the year has now risen to 11.
Only two individuals managed to survive the Kuwait fire. Ahmad Taika is currently on life support, while another victim, identified as Batesta, escaped uninjured.
Miram Namutebi, Chairperson of Ugandans Working in Kuwait, called on the Ugandan government to urgently intervene.
“These processes need significant financial support,” Namutebi said. “The bodies are now lying in Dhagji and Subhan morgues, and families are desperate. We need help.”
For many Ugandan families, sending a relative to the Middle East is seen as a path out of poverty.
But what begins as a search for opportunity too often ends in tragedy. Many workers are subjected to poor living conditions, exploitation, and abuse.
In some cases, they are crammed into overcrowded accommodation with limited safety measures and almost no emergency response structures.
Oloka decried the growing number of stranded Ugandan bodies in the region, blaming travel companies for abandoning their responsibilities.
“These agencies disappear when problems arise, leaving families to bear the emotional and financial burden,” he said.
“The government should set up a special fund to help return the bodies of those who die abroad. These workers contribute significantly to the national economy through remittances.”
Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs Abbey Walusimbi acknowledged the tragedy and said the government is “still studying the circumstances” before announcing the next steps.
But critics argue that delays and lack of preparedness speak volumes. For years, human rights activists have urged stronger bilateral agreements, better regulation of labor export agencies, and clear frameworks to protect Ugandans abroad.
Meanwhile, the families of the six men who died in Kuwait are left mourning, not only for their loved ones, but also for the broken promises that sent them away.
As Uganda continues to export labor to Gulf countries, each new coffin that returns home tells a story not just of lost life, but of a system that has turned migration into a death sentence for the poor.
English 