A group of 12 deportees from the United States has arrived in Uganda, marking the first known transfer under a controversial safe third country agreement between the two governments, according to officials and legal groups.
The individuals, described as third country nationals whose asylum claims in the United States had been rejected, landed at Entebbe International Airport earlier this week. Ugandan authorities confirmed the arrivals but provided limited details, including the nationalities of those deported.
The transfer reflects a broader push by the United States government to relocate migrants to countries where they have no prior ties, part of an expanded deportation strategy that has drawn criticism from legal and human rights organizations.
A senior Ugandan government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deportees will remain in Uganda temporarily as part of a transition phase for potential onward transmission to other countries.
The agreement was first announced in August 2025, when Uganda said it would accept a limited number of individuals denied asylum in the United States but unwilling to return to their countries of origin.
U.S. officials say the transfers are being conducted in coordination with Ugandan authorities. Yasmeen Hibrawi, a public affairs counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, said the deportations are carried out in full cooperation with the Government of Uganda, but declined to provide details on individual cases.
Ugandan authorities have stated they will not accept deportees with criminal records or unaccompanied minors, and have indicated a preference for individuals of African origin.
Permanent Secretary Bagire Vincent Waiswa has emphasized Uganda commitment to international refugee protections, including the principle of non refoulement.
Uganda hosts nearly 2 million refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Eritrea, placing growing pressure on resources.
The Uganda Law Society has condemned the deportations and plans to challenge the agreement in court, citing concerns over legality and transparency.
Critics argue the policy risks sending asylum seekers to unfamiliar countries without adequate safeguards, while human rights groups question Uganda capacity to absorb more arrivals.
Data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows more than 63000 individuals were in detention as of 12 March.
Uganda joins countries such as Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and South Sudan in accepting deportees under similar arrangements, as debate continues over the policy implications.
