Uganda has reached an agreement with the United States to host migrants who fail to qualify for asylum in Washington, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday. The move marks the latest step in U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified deportation agenda, which has included similar deals with countries such as El Salvador, Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire said the arrangement covers “Third Country Nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States, but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.” He emphasized that the program is temporary and excludes unaccompanied minors and individuals with criminal records. Uganda, however, has indicated a preference for hosting African migrants under the deal.
The announcement comes just a day after Kampala denied any such agreement, fueling debate over the country’s role in Washington’s migration policy. Uganda already hosts Africa’s largest refugee population about 1.7 million people mainly from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and, more recently, Sudan due to its ongoing civil war.
The United Nations has long praised Uganda’s “progressive refugee policy” and open-door approach. Refugees in the country are often given land, access to social services, and the right to work. Yet, with new arrivals surging in 2024, questions remain about whether the country can sustain additional pressures.
Rights groups have voiced concern that such deals risk breaching international law by exposing deported migrants to torture, abduction, or degrading conditions in countries they do not call home. Similar criticisms followed the U.S.-South Sudan agreement, under which Washington deported eight migrant criminals earlier this year, only one of whom was South Sudanese.
The Trump administration, however, has defended its actions, arguing that some home nations refuse to take back their citizens, leaving Washington with limited options. Deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador earlier this year also sparked outrage after reports of poor detention conditions.
As Washington and Kampala work out implementation details, the deal is likely to remain controversial, balancing Uganda’s reputation as a refugee haven against fears it may be overburdened or complicit in violations of migrant rights.
