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Deportation

Uganda Agrees to Take in Nationals from Third Countries for US Asylum

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Uganda, already home to 1.7 million refugees, has agreed to take in nationals from third countries who may not receive asylum in the United States but do not wish to return to their countries of origin. The agreement, based on the conditions that those seeking asylum have no criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors, aims to deport millions of undocumented immigrants to third countries. This decision marks Uganda's latest move in East Africa, following Rwanda and South Sudan in announcing similar deals with Washington.

Key Takeaways:

  • The agreement between Uganda and the US is based on the conditions that asylum seekers have no criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors.
  • The deal aims to deport millions of undocumented immigrants to third countries, with Uganda hosting the largest refugee population in Africa, at 1.7 million.
  • Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted.
  • The agreement is temporary and is still being worked out, with no clear sign if it has been signed.
  • Uganda prefers that individuals from African countries be transferred to the country.
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Okello Oryem has stated that Uganda lacks the facilities to accommodate people deported from the US and is discussing "visas, tariffs, sanctions, and related issues".
  • The UN's refugee agency notes that Uganda has a "progressive refugee policy" but also witnessed a significant increase in arrivals in 2024, primarily due to Sudan's civil war.
  • Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has taken actions aimed at speeding up deportations of undocumented migrants to third countries.

Statistics:

  • Uganda hosts the largest refugee population in Africa, with 1.7 million refugees.
  • The US has sent convicted criminals to South Sudan and the southern African kingdom of Eswatini as part of its efforts to increase removals to third countries.
  • The US has deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, where they were kept in a high-security jail with poor conditions before being returned to Venezuela.
  • In July, the US deported five men with criminal backgrounds to Eswatini and sent eight more to South Sudan.
  • Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has taken multiple actions aimed at speeding up deportations of undocumented migrants to third countries.

Sources:

  • Kampala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement
  • AL Jazeera: "Is Trump using Africa as a dumping ground for criminals?"
  • AL Jazeera: "Rwanda agrees to accept third-party migrant deportations from the US"

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