Uganda has made a dramatic policy shift, confirming that it will temporarily host certain migrants denied entry to the United States just a day after publicly dismissing the existence of such a deal.
On August 21, 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs acknowledged that Uganda had indeed reached an agreement with Washington to receive third-country nationals who were denied asylum in the U.S. According to officials, the arrangement will apply only to migrants who have no criminal records, are not unaccompanied minors, and are preferably of African origin. The ministry framed the move as a “temporary humanitarian measure,” while stressing that implementation details remain under negotiation (AP News, The Guardian).
Minister of Foreign Affairs · Hon Henry Okello Oryem
This announcement came barely 24 hours after Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, flatly denied reports of any deportation deal, arguing that Uganda lacked the infrastructure to absorb such migrants (Reuters). The reversal has sparked speculation that Kampala was either managing domestic backlash or waiting to finalize negotiations before making them public.
Rising debate at home and abroad
The agreement has quickly become a flashpoint in Ugandan politics. Critics argue that it could strain the country’s already overburdened refugee system. Uganda currently hosts more than 1.6 million refugees, the largest number in Africa, mainly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Opposition figures and civil society actors warn that adding deportees from the U.S. could fuel resentment and create governance challenges.
At the same time, some analysts suggest the deal may be politically motivated, aimed at strengthening ties with Washington as President Yoweri Museveni gears up for Uganda’s 2026 elections. By cooperating with the U.S. on a sensitive migration issue, Kampala could be seeking to bolster its international standing and secure diplomatic or financial benefits.
Human rights groups have raised further concerns, citing Uganda’s controversial record on freedoms and minority rights especially under its anti-LGBTQ legislation. They warn that asylum seekers who face persecution in their home countries may be exposed to additional risks in Uganda (The Guardian).
Part of a global trend
The Uganda–U.S. deal also reflects a broader trend of migration outsourcing, where wealthier nations shift the burden of hosting rejected asylum seekers to partner states in the Global South. Similar arrangements have been pursued by countries such as Rwanda, which has hosted migrants under a controversial deal with the United Kingdom.
An Air Force Boeing C-17 used for deportation flights at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, on February 13. (Photo: Justin Hamel/AFP/Getty Images)
For Uganda, the arrangement underscores both its geopolitical relevance and its domestic vulnerabilities. While officials insist the scope will remain limited, the debate over ethics, capacity, and political intent is only likely to intensify in the months ahead.