Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement
Uganda’s First US Deportation Flight Arrives Under Third-Country Pact
Donald Trump’s administration has initiated a new phase of its immigration strategy, with the first deportation flight from the United States arriving in Uganda. The group of individuals on board, described as a transitional batch for potential relocation, marks the first use of the bilateral agreement signed between the two nations in August. An unnamed Ugandan official shared with Reuters that the arrivals are part of a broader effort to send migrants to countries they are not directly connected to.
Legal Criticism and Agreement Terms
The Uganda Law Society has expressed concerns over the process, criticizing it as dehumanizing. They noted that 12 people were included in the flight, though details about their backgrounds remain undisclosed. The agreement allows Uganda to accept migrants who are unwilling to return to their home nations but may not qualify for asylum in the US. It also excludes those with criminal records or unaccompanied children.
“This process has reduced deportees to little more than chattel, for the benefit of private interests on both sides of the Atlantic,” stated the society, highlighting the perceived lack of dignity in the arrangement.
Deportation Expansion Across Africa
Uganda is not the only African nation participating in this initiative. Countries like Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan have also accepted deportees from diverse regions, including Cuba, Jamaica, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. The US has already sent dozens of individuals to these third countries, with some nations receiving payments for hosting them. For instance, Eswatini was compensated $5.1 million to accommodate up to 160 people.
“We do not discuss the specifics of our diplomatic communications for privacy reasons,” said Yasmeen Hibrawi, a public affairs officer at the US embassy in Kampala.
Impact and Future Plans
Uganda, which already hosts nearly 2 million refugees and asylum seekers, has seen hundreds of individuals ordered for deportation. However, as of now, only the first batch has arrived, according to the country’s foreign affairs minister, Oryem Okello. He mentioned the US may be conducting cost assessments to optimize the process, aiming to avoid flights with minimal passengers.
“Planeloads are the most effective way to handle this,” Okello added, emphasizing the need for larger groups.
Immigration data reveals over 63,000 people were detained by US authorities as of March 12, with some centers housing toddlers and newborns. This includes the Dilley, Texas facility, where 5,600 individuals were held between April 2025 and February 2026, according to reports from Human Rights First and Raices. The legal challenges filed by Uganda’s law society underscore the ongoing debate over the implications of this deportation strategy.
