Uganda rejects U.S. deportation deal amid rising pressure on African nations

Uganda has firmly denied reports that it has entered into an agreement with the United States to accept migrants deported under a Trump-era immigration policy.
The denial follows a CBS News report citing confidential U.S. government documents, which claimed that both Uganda and Honduras had agreed to take in asylum seekers and deportees from third countries. Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem, rejected the claims, stating that “to the best of my knowledge, we have not reached such an agreement.” The minister also added that “we do not have the facilities and infrastructure to accommodate such illegal immigrants in Uganda.”
The alleged agreement, reportedly limited to deportees with no criminal record from Africa and Asia, was tied to a broader U.S. policy allowing the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries deemed “safe.” However, Uganda joins Eswatini and other African nations in rebuffing US attempts to redirect deportees.
Human rights groups have condemned the policy, warning that vulnerable migrants are being sent to countries where they have no ties or support systems. Critics also argue the strategy undermines international asylum laws. Meanwhile, African nations continue to face growing diplomatic pressure as the U.S. steps up what White House officials have described as “the largest massive deportation operation in history.” As of now, Uganda maintains that no formal agreement exists — and no infrastructure is in place to support such a policy.