By Spy Uganda
Uganda has become the latest African nation to sign a controversial deportation agreement with the United States, in what observers describe as part of Washington’s widening campaign to curb undocumented migration.
According to government documents obtained by CBS News and shared with the BBC, Kampala has agreed to receive an unspecified number of African and Asian migrants who had sought asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Officials confirmed that individuals with criminal histories will be excluded, but declined to disclose how many people Uganda will ultimately host.
The deal mirrors a parallel agreement with Honduras, which has pledged to take in several hundred Spanish-speaking migrants, including families with children, over the next two years. Both arrangements form part of a broader U.S. strategy to build a network of partner states willing to house migrants who are not their own citizens. At least a dozen countries across Latin America, Africa, and beyond have already signed on.
Human rights groups have condemned the policy, warning that deportees could face heightened risks in countries with weak legal frameworks or fragile human rights records. Critics argue that transferring asylum seekers to distant nations without adequate safeguards may breach international law and expose migrants to further harm or subsequent deportation.
Uganda’s deal follows similar agreements struck earlier this year. Rwanda agreed to resettle up to 250 migrants from the U.S., while Costa Rica and Panama have both accepted groups of African and Asian migrants. In June, the U.S. State Department confirmed a “safe third country” agreement with Paraguay.
Analysts note that the approach reflects a core pillar of former President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda: outsourcing migrant processing through global partnerships in order to sharply reduce undocumented arrivals at America’s borders. Reports suggest Washington has also approached Ecuador and Spain about joining the program, underscoring its intent to expand the initiative further.
Rights advocates, however, caution that Uganda’s participation could set a troubling precedent for African states—transforming them into destinations for migrants displaced by U.S. enforcement policies rather than true safe havens.
