KAMPALA — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the arrival of the first group of individuals transferred from the United States to Uganda under a controversial “Safe Third Country” agreement.
In a press statement released on April 3, 2026, Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa revealed that eight individuals arrived in Uganda on April 1, after their cases were reviewed and approved by a U.S. immigration judge.
The Scope of the Agreement
The transfer is the first practical implementation of the Agreement for Cooperation in the Examination of Protection Requests, which was signed between the Republic of Uganda and the U.S. Government in July 2025.
According to the Ministry, the deal specifically targets third-country nationals—individuals who are neither citizens of Uganda nor the USA; African origin — the agreement is restricted to individuals of African descent who have sought asylum in the U.S. but may not be granted status there and Safety concerns — it applies to those reluctant to return to their home countries due to safety fears.
Commitment to International Law
The Ministry emphasised that Uganda was selected as a “safe third country” and that the agreement conforms to both national laws and international obligations. A key pillar of the arrangement is the principle of non-refoulement, which guarantees that no individual will be returned to a country where they face torture or degrading treatment.
“Uganda continues to uphold its longstanding commitment to providing sanctuary to persons in need and ensuring that they are treated with dignity,” stated Bagiire Vincent Waiswa.
While the eight individuals are now in the country, their protection requests will continue to be handled under the oversight of the Ugandan government. Citing privacy reasons, the Ministry noted that the identities and specific nationalities of the group would not be disclosed to the public.
Uganda is already globally recognised for its open-door refugee policy, hosting over 1.5 million displaced persons, primarily from neighbouring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This new bilateral pact with the U.S. marks a significant shift, expanding Uganda’s role in global migration beyond Africa.