Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement
Uganda Receives First US Deportation Flight Under Third-Country Agreement
The initial deportation flight from the United States has arrived in Uganda, marking a key step in the Trump administration’s effort to relocate migrants to nations they are not affiliated with. This move aligns with a broader strategy to expedite the removal of individuals seeking asylum, according to officials.
A senior Ugandan government representative, speaking to Reuters, noted that the deported individuals would remain in the country as part of a temporary phase to facilitate potential future migration to other nations. The Uganda Law Society has criticized the process, highlighting the presence of 12 people on the flight—Uganda’s first under the agreement signed in August. Details about their backgrounds, such as nationalities, have not been disclosed publicly.
“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.
Legal Challenges and Criticisms
The Uganda Law Society has vowed to pursue legal action against the deportations, citing a process they describe as undignified and dehumanizing. The organization accused the arrangement of prioritizing private interests over the welfare of the individuals affected, effectively reducing them to property in the eyes of the law.
Deportation Agreements and Regional Context
Uganda’s agreement with the US in August includes accepting migrants who are reluctant to return to their home countries but may not qualify for asylum in the US. The deal specifies that Uganda will not accept those with criminal records or unaccompanied minors. The financial terms of the agreement remain unspecified. Meanwhile, other African nations like Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan have also received deportees from countries such as Cuba, Jamaica, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.
The minister for foreign affairs, Oryem Okello, stated that no deportees had yet arrived in Uganda, attributing this to the US conducting a cost analysis to optimize the number of individuals sent per flight. “You can’t be doing one, two people at a time. Planeloads – that is the most effective way,” he added.
As of 12 March, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had detained over 63,000 people. A report by Human Rights First and Raices revealed that toddlers and newborns were among those incarcerated at an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas, between April 2025 and February 2026. The US has also provided financial support to Eswatini, with $5.1m allocated to accept up to 160 third-country nationals. Five men were sent to Eswatini in July, and ten more arrived in October, though two have since been returned to Jamaica and Cambodia.
