The Human Rights Association (HRA) has called on Myanmar authorities to urgently dismantle online scam compounds allegedly holding Ugandan nationals in forced labour operations under inhumane conditions.
In a statement released in May 2026, HRA Chairman Saad Kassis-Mohamed accused criminal syndicates operating within Myanmar of trafficking vulnerable individuals from Uganda and other countries using fake job opportunities advertised across social media and messaging platforms.
According to the organization, victims are promised legitimate employment opportunities in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia before being trafficked across the Thai-Myanmar border into heavily guarded scam compounds where they are forced into online fraud operations.
The HRA said Ugandan nationals trapped in the facilities are subjected to long working hours, intimidation, physical violence, psychological abuse, and constant surveillance.
The responsibility for the continued operation of these compounds and for the suffering of Ugandan nationals held within them rests entirely with Myanmar,” the statement noted.
The organization highlighted testimonies from Ugandan survivors who managed to escape the operations.
One victim, identified only as “Small Q,” reportedly travelled to Southeast Asia after receiving what he believed was a legitimate data entry job offer in Thailand. Instead, he was allegedly trafficked into the Tai Chang scam compound in Myanmar, where he was forced to work shifts lasting up to 18 hours daily while handling hundreds of fraudulent contacts under threats of violence.
Another Ugandan survivor, identified as Joseph, a journalist by profession, was reportedly promised employment as a customer service agent before also being trafficked into a scam operation.
According to HRA, Joseph secretly documented conditions inside the compound using his phone in an attempt to expose the abuse taking place within the facilities.
The organization further revealed that after escaping, some Ugandan victims were left stranded without financial support or shelter, forcing them to sleep on the streets before eventually finding temporary accommodation.
HRA cited reports from international organizations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations, which estimate that approximately 120,000 people remain trapped in forced scam labour operations in Myanmar.
The association described the compounds as large-scale fortified facilities guarded by armed personnel and sophisticated surveillance systems, making escape extremely difficult.
Speaking on the matter, Kassis-Mohamed said the victims were ordinary Ugandans who had trusted employment opportunities that turned into human trafficking operations.
These are Ugandan men who did nothing wrong except trust an employment offer,” he said.
He further called on Myanmar authorities to dismantle the compounds, rescue all individuals being held against their will, and prosecute the criminal syndicates responsible.
HRA also urged governments across Africa and international agencies to strengthen public awareness campaigns warning young people against suspicious overseas job offers that often target unemployed youth seeking opportunities abroad.
The revelations come amid growing international concern over the expansion of cyber scam operations and human trafficking networks across parts of Southeast Asia.
