US deports eight African migrants to Uganda under controversial third-country deal

The United States has deported eight African nationals to Uganda, utilizing a third-country agreement that is drawing sharp criticism from legal and human rights groups.

The group, consisting of seven men and one woman, arrived at Entebbe International Airport after being removed from the US. According to officials, the deportees are citizens of six different African nations: Mauritania, Angola, Ethiopia, Mali, Togo, and Guinea.

Authorities stated that the individuals were asylum seekers who were not permitted to remain in the United States but could not be easily returned to their home countries due to legal or safety concerns. This led to their transfer to Uganda under an existing bilateral arrangement.

The case highlights a growing trend in US immigration enforcement: deporting migrants to third countries—nations where they hold no citizenship and may lack family or social ties. The policy is often deployed in complex cases where traditional repatriation is not feasible.

Ugandan authorities confirmed the agreement, signaling a willingness to temporarily host the individuals. However, the Uganda Law Society has publicly questioned the legality and fairness of the process, describing it as problematic and potentially harmful. The group is reportedly considering legal challenges against the arrangement.

Critics argue that relocating migrants to a country where they have no cultural or social connections could lead to significant hardship and uncertainty. They also question whether sufficient protections are in place to safeguard the deportees’ rights and well-being.

Uganda, which already hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, now faces added pressure on its resources and immigration system as it becomes a destination for third-country deportees.

Supporters of the policy, however, contend that it offers a practical solution for managing difficult immigration cases, especially when deportation to a migrant’s country of origin is not possible.

The long-term fate of the eight individuals remains unclear, including how—or if—they will be integrated or supported during their stay in Uganda.