Uganda has finalized an agreement with the United States to temporarily host deported migrants from third countries. This deal allows Uganda to receive individuals who have not been granted asylum in the U.S. and are unwilling to return to their home nations. The agreement, confirmed by Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stipulates that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be included in the transfers. Uganda has also expressed a preference for migrants of African origin.
This development follows earlier statements from a Ugandan official who had cited infrastructure concerns as a reason to deny such arrangements. Despite these reservations, five migrants from various countries have already been transferred to Uganda under this new accord. The U.S. administration, under President Trump, has been actively seeking third-country agreements to manage its immigration challenges, with Uganda now among the nations cooperating with these initiatives.
Uganda's history as a host to displaced people, currently sheltering nearly 1.5 million refugees primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, underscores its significant role in refugee hosting. However, the agreement faces challenges, including concerns raised by the U.S. Department of State regarding Uganda's human rights record and restrictive laws. Furthermore, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned that emergency funds for refugees in Uganda are projected to run out by September 2025, potentially leading to a drastic reduction in aid and impacting essential services for the existing refugee population.
Uganda's refugee policies are progressive, granting asylum seekers access to land, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Yet, the influx of new arrivals, coupled with the potential for increased deportee numbers, poses a significant challenge to resource management. The international community is closely watching Uganda's capacity to uphold its humanitarian commitments while navigating the complexities of this new agreement and its existing refugee support programs.