Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement
Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement
On April 2, 2026, Uganda welcomed its initial group of deportees from the United States under a bilateral agreement signed in August of the previous year. This marks a key development in the Trump administration’s approach to expelling migrants to nations where they have no established connections.
The 12 individuals on the flight were set to remain in the East African country as part of a temporary arrangement, according to a senior Ugandan government official speaking to Reuters. This official described the process as a “transition phase for potential onward transmission to other countries.”
Legal and human rights concerns raised
The Uganda Law Society criticized the deportations, calling the procedure “undignified, harrowing, and dehumanising.” The group alleged that the process had reduced deportees to “little more than chattel” to serve private interests across the Atlantic. They also announced plans to challenge the actions in Ugandan and regional courts.
“We do not, however, discuss the details of our private diplomatic communications and for privacy reasons, we cannot discuss the particulars to their cases,” said Yasmeen Hibrawi, a public affairs counsellor at the US embassy in Kampala.
Under the agreement, Uganda agreed to accept migrants who might not qualify for asylum in the US but were “reluctant” to return to their home countries. The country specified it would not accept individuals with criminal records or unaccompanied minors, though it did not confirm if financial compensation was involved.
Meanwhile, the US has already arranged the deportation of dozens of individuals to third countries. Other African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan, have also received deportees from diverse regions such as Cuba, Jamaica, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.
Deportation plans and logistical considerations
Uganda’s minister for foreign affairs, Oryem Okello, noted that no deportees had yet arrived, citing the US’s possible “cost analysis” to optimize efficiency. He emphasized that sending small groups would be less effective than transporting “planeloads” of individuals at once.
As of March 12, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had detained over 63,000 people. A report by Human Rights First and Raices highlighted that toddlers and newborns were among the 5,600 people held in a Texas detention center in Dilley between April 2025 and February 2026.
Earlier in August, Uganda confirmed it had reached a deal with the US to host individuals from third countries. This initiative adds to the country’s existing role as a host for nearly 2 million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan.
