Eight people from different African countries have been deported to Uganda from the United States, marking the first such transfer under a migration deal signed last year. The group arrived on Wednesday after a US judge approved their cases, as confirmed by Uganda's foreign ministry.
The ministry stated that the agreement designates Uganda as a safe third country for migrants who cannot return to their countries due to reasons such as persecution. However, the Uganda Law Society has condemned the deportations, arguing that the individuals were effectively 'dumped' in the country through what they deemed an 'undignified, harrowing and dehumanizing process.' They have vowed to challenge the legality of this action in court.
While the US Department of Homeland Security has been approached for comments, critics, including human rights advocates, question the legality of deporting individuals under these circumstances. Since the Trump administration began, a shift towards stringent immigration policies has seen many individuals transferred to third countries rather than being returned to their countries of origin.
The Ugandan government has commented that the deportees are neither Ugandan nor US citizens but are 'of African origin who may not be granted asylum in the USA.' They further clarified that Uganda continues its commitment to providing sanctuary and treating individuals with dignity.
Despite ongoing efforts by Uganda to uphold human rights, numerous other African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, have also agreed to accept deportees from the US, reflecting a broader trend in migration policies now more than ever scrutinized.
