Thousands of Ugandans and Kenyans are presently working in Iraq and Afghanistan as contractors for US-based security companies. According to a study by the US Central Command published in June this year, 11.580 “third-country nationals”, who are neither American nor Iraqi, were deployed as armed security personnel, of whom most “were from countries such as Uganda and Kenya”, the study pointed out. Unarmed third-country nationals totaled 54,768.
Near where I stay in Kampala one of the leading Ugandan recruiting companies has its offices. Hundreds of men, young and not so much, retired army officers, prison warders, forest guards and regular police officers, as well as young unemployed trying their luck, mill around the entrance gate every morning.
Once I was on the same flight as 80 of them reporting for duty; they were traveling to Baghdad, via Nairobi and Dubai. One I spoke with told me he was going for one year, extendable, and would be paid US$ 1,000 a month, everything included; it seems this has now been reduced to $700. He seemed very happy, telling me how he would become rich, send home his money and start a business after a couple of years. Uganda started sending guards to Iraq 3-4 years ago; Kenya has recently tagged along. Their assets are that they are tough, dependable, cooperative, and speak English. Their duties include manning gates and premises where the US security forces are based.
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