UgandaToday: 📌 Ugandan Housemaid Faces Death Penalty in Syria Following Murder Charge — Government Weighs Limited Options
By Uganda Today Correspondent
Kampala, Uganda — A 30-year-old Ugandan woman, Vicky Ajok, is facing the prospect of execution in Syria, after being accused of murdering her 87-year-old employer — veteran Syrian actress Huda Shaarawi — at the celebrity’s home in Damascus late last month.
Syrian authorities allege that Ajok, who was employed as a housemaid, admitted to killing Shaarawi following an early-morning assault that left the renowned actress dead from blunt-force injuries. She reportedly fled the scene but was arrested and detained by security forces.
The case has drawn sharp international attention, with human rights advocates and Ugandan families closely watching developments as Ajok awaits a trial that could end in the death penalty — the maximum sentence permitted under Syrian law for murder.
State Minister Says Uganda’s Legal Leverage Is Limited
In a statement to the press, Hon. Esther Davinia Anyakun, Uganda’s Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development, confirmed that the government is monitoring the case and liaising with authorities through diplomatic channels. However, she cautioned that Uganda’s ability to intervene remains constrained by the absence of formal labour externalisation agreements with Syria.
“Syria is not among the countries with which Uganda has bilateral agreements, and we also do not have a Syrian embassy here,” Minister Anyakun said, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via Uganda’s embassy in Cairo, is handling contacts with Syrian officials. “We are doing everything we can to see how that girl can be rescued. We need to talk to the government of Syria to have this girl come back home.”
The Minister also highlighted conflicting accounts surrounding the murder, noting reports that implicate other members of the household, including children, in the fatal incident. Ms. Anyakun said such contradictions underscore the complexity of the case and the need for careful diplomatic engagement.
Calls for Accountability and Support for Migrant Workers
Kenneth Oluka the chairperson of Uganda Kyeyo Association claims that although Ajok pleaded guilty of the case in her verbal statement, facts adduced indicate that she did it under duress as explained by the deceased’s family members .Experts and civil society voices have underscored the risks faced by Ugandan migrant workers in conflict zones and countries with weak legal protections, urging the government to strengthen pre-departure orientation and pursue labour agreements that safeguard citizens abroad.
Human rights groups also stress the importance of fair trial standards and due process, particularly where the death penalty is a possible outcome. International figures show that Syria is among several countries in the Middle East where executions are carried out under national law.
What’s Next
Ajok remains in Syrian custody as legal proceedings progress. Kampala’s diplomatic mission in Cairo continues to seek updates and explore avenues for possible repatriation or legal support — though, for now, Kampala’s influence is largely peripheral due to the lack of formal labour or consular agreements with Damascus.
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