Uganda to accept deported migrants under new deal

Uganda says it has agreed a deal with the United States to take deported migrants on condition that the deportees should not have criminal records and not be unaccompanied minors.

Uganda to accept deported migrants from the United States under new deal

KAMPALA Uganda has reportedly concluded a deal with the United States to take deported migrants who meet conditions including no criminal records and not being unaccompanied minors. The Ugandan foreign affairs ministry said detailed modalities are being worked out and that the agreement could focus on African nationalities. Officials indicated the deal had been concluded, though it was not clear if it had been signed. International Relations Minister Henry Okello Oryem noted Uganda's liberal refugee policy has limits and questioned how it would integrate people rejected by their own countries. He said the government is discussing visas tariffs sanctions and related issues rather than accepting illegal aliens from the United States. In July the United States deported five men with criminal backgrounds to Eswatini and eight to South Sudan.

The move signals a shift in how Western nations share the burden of migration. It tests Uganda's balance between humanitarian policy and social capacity. By tying eligibility to criminal records and unaccompanied status, the plan narrows the pool and raises questions about screening and due process. The preference for African nationalities could reflect a regional alignment strategy and public sentiment inside Uganda.

The plan risks domestic backlash and could affect Uganda's political standing with partners. Budgetary pressure for reception and border processing adds financial risk. The broader implication is a test of how asylum policy travels across borders and whether regional cooperation will shape future migration decisions.

Highlights

The coming details will show how much mercy the policy can sustain in practical terms.