Uganda has agreed to accept certain migrants deported from the United States as part of a bilateral deal made under President Donald Trump’s administration. The agreement allows Uganda to receive nationals from third countries who may not qualify for asylum in the US but do not wish to return to their countries of origin. A key condition is that individuals with criminal records or unaccompanied minors are excluded from the deal.
Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the permanent secretary of Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, confirmed the arrangement and noted that Uganda prefers migrants from African nations. The specifics of how the agreement will be implemented are still under negotiation.
This deal follows similar agreements between the US and other countries such as Honduras, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Eswatini, aimed at managing the deportation of undocumented migrants to nations where they do not hold citizenship.
While Uganda is already home to nearly 2 million refugees and asylum seekers primarily from neighboring countries, the deal has sparked debate among Ugandans and human rights advocates who question the implications for migrants’ rights and the capacity to integrate deportees.