Kampala, Uganda – Uganda has announced it has reached an agreement with the United States to accept deported migrants, provided they do not have criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors. The deal, which was confirmed by the Ugandan Foreign Ministry on Thursday, has been met with both criticism and questions about its terms.
In a statement, the ministry said that while an agreement had been concluded, the specific details are still being finalized. It also expressed a preference for receiving deportees of African nationalities but did not provide further details on what Uganda would receive in exchange for accepting them.
The US embassy in Uganda declined to comment on the matter, describing it as part of “diplomatic negotiations.” The embassy said its actions were aimed at upholding US President Donald Trump’s “policy of keeping Americans safe.”
The announcement follows a phone call between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which, according to the State Department, focused on “migration, reciprocal trade, and commercial ties.” The department noted that Rubio had “thanked Uganda for providing a model of regional stability.”
The Trump administration has been actively seeking ways to deter illegal immigration and deport individuals, particularly those with criminal records. This policy includes efforts to find third-party countries to accept deportees who cannot be easily repatriated to their home countries.
The proposed deal has faced criticism from human rights activists who argue it may violate international law. Opposition lawmaker Muwada Nkunyingi suggested that the Ugandan government is pursuing the agreement to “clear their image” ahead of the 2026 elections, urging Washington not to ignore human rights and governance issues in the country. Human rights lawyer Nicholas Opio likened the deal to “human trafficking” and said it would leave the status of the deportees unclear.
The announcement comes amidst a strained relationship between the US and Uganda over a controversial 2023 anti-homosexuality bill, which drew threats of sanctions and led the World Bank to withhold some funding. In May 2024, the US also imposed sanctions on several Ugandan officials over corruption and human rights abuses.
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