Twelve deportees from the United States arrived in Uganda on Thursday, marking the first known transfer under a bilateral arrangement allowing Washington to send migrants to third countries.
The Uganda Law Society confirmed the group landed at Entebbe International Airport, describing the process as “undignified” and vowing to challenge the deportations in court.
The transfer reflects an expansion of deportation policies under Donald Trump, which increasingly rely on agreements with third countries to receive migrants who cannot be returned to their states of origin. The policy has drawn criticism from legal and human rights groups.
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Kampala said the transfers were conducted “in full cooperation” with Ugandan authorities under a Safe Third Country Agreement. The embassy declined to provide details about the individuals involved, citing privacy and diplomatic considerations.
Uganda’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment.
A senior Ugandan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrivals and said the deportees would remain in Uganda temporarily, with the possibility of relocation to other countries at a later stage.
The nationalities of the deportees were not disclosed.
Uganda joins several African states, including Ghana, South Sudan, Cameroon and Eswatini, that have accepted non-national deportees from the United States under similar arrangements.
The agreement between Kampala and Washington, announced in August, allows Uganda to receive individuals denied asylum in the U.S. who refuse to return to their home countries. Ugandan authorities have said they will not accept deportees with criminal records or unaccompanied minors, and will prioritise individuals of African origin.
Uganda already hosts nearly two million refugees, mainly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, placing increasing pressure on the country’s resources.