By Joseph Kiggundu
The Ugandan government has intensified diplomatic engagement with Syrian authorities in an effort to stop the execution of a Ugandan woman sentenced to death in Syria.
Henry Okello Oryem, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Kampala has formally reached out to officials in Syria and is seeking urgent intervention to prevent the sentence from being carried out.
“We have communicated with them repeatedly,” Oryem said, expressing optimism that a Ugandan official could travel to Damascus within days. He added that he is also attempting to directly engage Syria’s foreign affairs leadership in hopes of securing a reprieve.
The domestic worker, identified as Vicky Ajok, was convicted over the killing of her 87-year-old employer, Huda Shaarawi. The incident occurred on January 29 at the employer’s residence in Damascus.
Reports indicate that Ajok allegedly struck the elderly woman with a blunt object following claims that she had been mistreated and denied her pay. She reportedly fled the home after the incident but was later apprehended by Syrian security forces.
The case has sparked renewed concern in Uganda about the welfare of migrant workers employed in the Middle East. Authorities say they are exploring all available diplomatic avenues to save Ajok’s life while broader discussions continue about the protection and rights of Ugandans working abroad.