By M10News Africa Desk|21 August 2025
Uganda has agreed to temporarily host third-country nationals who have been denied asylum in the United States, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The move is intended to provide a humanitarian solution for migrants who are unwilling or unable to return to their home countries.
Vincent Bagiire, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, described the arrangement as a “temporary measure” to protect those caught in limbo.
He said the agreement applies to individuals who may not qualify for U.S. asylum but have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.
Details of the U.S.-Uganda deal remain limited. Neither the U.S. State Department nor Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released the full agreement, leaving questions about how long the migrants will remain in Uganda, their legal status, or whether they might eventually be resettled in a third country.
Uganda is already one of the world’s largest hosts of refugees, accommodating over 1.6 million people fleeing conflict and persecution from neighbouring nations, including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.
Officials say the new arrangement is meant as a short-term humanitarian measure rather than a permanent relocation.
The timing of the agreement comes amid increased scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies, including recent changes to asylum eligibility and accelerated deportation procedures.
Advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about the humanitarian consequences for migrants denied entry but facing unsafe conditions in their countries of origin.
According to Bagiire, the Ugandan government will work closely with the U.S. to coordinate the arrival and accommodation of the migrants. He emphasised the country’s commitment to upholding international humanitarian norms while ensuring security and social stability.
The number of migrants covered by the agreement has not been disclosed. Ugandan authorities have stressed that the arrangement is “temporary” and that it will be revisited as circumstances evolve.
Human rights organisations have cautiously welcomed the move, describing it as a necessary step to prevent immediate danger to asylum seekers, while urging both nations to provide clarity on the legal framework and protections available to the migrants.
Observers note that the deal also reflects growing cooperation between the U.S. and Uganda on migration management, a policy area that has attracted international attention amid rising global displacement.
Officials from both countries are expected to issue further updates in the coming weeks as implementation details are finalised.
Editing by M10News Africa Desk | Contact: africa@m10news.com
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