A recent report suggests Uganda has agreed to accept migrants who don’t qualify for asylum in the United States. According to Vincent Bagiire, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, the agreement involves third-country nationals who may not want to return to their countries of origin. Bagiire described the arrangement as temporary, but details about the deal remain scarce.
However, there’s confusion surrounding this alleged agreement. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem has denied the existence of such a deal, citing Uganda’s inadequate infrastructure to accommodate migrants. Oryem’s statement contradicts the earlier report, leaving the status of the agreement uncertain.
The reported agreement is part of the US government’s efforts to increase deportations to third countries. Under this policy, migrants who don’t have citizenship in the country they’re being deported to may face uncertain futures, including potential detention or forced relocation. Human rights groups have expressed concerns about the implications of such agreements, highlighting potential risks to migrants’ safety and well-being.
The US has reportedly reached out to several countries, including Honduras and Rwanda, to accept deported migrants. Rwanda, for instance, has confirmed it will take up to 250 migrants from the US, while Honduras has agreed to receive several hundred deported people from Spanish-speaking countries. These agreements have sparked debates about human rights, international law, and the responsibilities of countries towards migrants.
The conflicting statements from Ugandan officials have created uncertainty about the country’s involvement in the US deportation plan. As the situation unfolds, human rights groups, governments, and international organizations are likely to scrutinize the details of any potential agreement and its implications for migrants and countries involved.
