Uganda is facing criticism after confirming a deal with the United States to accept migrants denied asylum under an arrangement linked to the Trump administration.
The country’s foreign ministry last week described the deal as a “temporary arrangement” to receive individuals “who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.”
Opposition figures have condemned the move, accusing the government of bypassing parliament and compromising national interests. “The whole scheme stinks,” said Mathias Mpuuga, former leader of the opposition in Uganda’s parliament.
Under the agreement, Uganda said it will not take in migrants with criminal records or unaccompanied minors, and prefers deportees from African countries. The clause could complicate US efforts to relocate non-African migrants, such as Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose deportation to Uganda was halted by a US court after he claimed fear of persecution.
Uganda becomes the fourth African country to sign such an arrangement, after Rwanda, South Sudan, and Eswatini. The deal comes as President Yoweri Museveni’s government faces growing scrutiny ahead of the 2026 elections.
Uganda already hosts nearly two million refugees, mostly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns about added pressure on the country’s strained humanitarian system.
“This helps relieve the US of its burden but adds little for Uganda,” said journalist and researcher Raymond Mujuni. “Uganda already has one of the world’s highest refugee populations, and this merely increases the strain on scarce resources.”
Analysts also warn of political implications. “The agreement may shield the government from critical scrutiny of its authoritarian practices, particularly as elections approach,” said Nicodemus Minde of the Institute for Security Studies.
Uganda has previously been linked to similar arrangements. Amnesty International reported that nearly 1,800 asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan were sent to Uganda under a deal with Israel between 2015 and 2018, although Kampala denied the claims.
The number of migrants expected under the new US deal remains unclear. Officials said discussions with Washington are ongoing, while President Museveni’s office has declined to comment.
Museveni, 80, who has ruled since 1986, is seeking re-election in 2026.
