Migrants Deported to Uganda Under New US Agreement
Eight migrants deported from the US arrived in Uganda on April 1.
Why it matters: Lawyers face potential human rights and legal standard challenges amid new deportation policies.
- Eight migrants arrived on April 1, 2026, under US-Uganda agreement.
- Uganda Law Society is challenging the deportation process in court.
- Agreement enables deporting African nationals to Uganda, citing non-refoulement.
- Uganda hosts nearly 2 million refugees and asylum-seekers.
On April 1, 2026, eight migrants deported from the United States landed in Uganda, inaugurating the implementation of the US-Uganda Safe Third Country Agreement. This agreement, effective since July 2025, permits the transfer of non-Ugandan African nationals from the US to Uganda, emphasizing compliance with the principle of non-refoulement, which means not returning asylum seekers to countries where they may be harmed.
The Uganda Law Society has filed a lawsuit, asserting the deportations occur without procedural transparency or a robust legal framework. This lawsuit brings to light the legal dilemmas surrounding international deportation agreements, threatening established international legal norms.
Despite these legal actions, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare maintains that the deportations are lawful, with safeguards in place to exclude deportees with criminal records or unaccompanied minors. Uganda continues to host a significant refugee population, primarily from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, and similar agreements with the US may affect broader immigration policy trends.
By the numbers:
- 8 migrants — Number of deportees arriving on April 1 under the new agreement.
- 2 million — Approximate number of refugees and asylum-seekers Uganda currently hosts.
Yes, but: Concerns exist that the process may lack procedural transparency and a clear legal framework.
What's next: The Uganda Law Society's lawsuit could set a precedent for international deportation agreements.