Uganda has confirmed an agreement with the United States (US) to host migrants from third countries who fail to secure asylum in America but are unwilling to return to their homelands.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a statement on Thursday, August 21, the move is a new chapter in Uganda’s long history of hosting displaced people.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, explained that the deal is only temporary and will come with clear conditions.
As part of the bilateral cooperation between Uganda and the United States, an Agreement for cooperation in the examination of protection requests was concluded.
The Agreement is in respect of Third Country Nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.
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Uganda Gives Conditions Under the Deal
Waiswa added that Uganda would prefer to receive African nationals under the new arrangement. However, the finer details are still being discussed with Washington.
Additionally, Individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted.
“This is a temporary arrangement with conditions, including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted. Uganda also prefers that individuals from African countries shall be the ones transferred to Uganda.
“The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented,” Waiswa added.
The announcement has exposed confusion within Uganda’s leadership because on Wednesday, August 20, a senior foreign affairs official publicly dismissed the deal.
The minister for foreign affairs Okello Oryem said that the country lacked the facilities to accommodate deportees from America.
“To the best of my knowledge we have not reached such an agreement. We do not have the facilities and infrastructure to accommodate such illegal immigrants in Uganda,” Okello Oryem told Reuters.
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Rwanda to Host 250 Deportees
Earlier on August 5, Rwanda also signed a deal with America to accept up to 250 deportees.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed the agreement, saying the country would review and approve each individual case before resettlement.
Those approved for resettlement would receive accommodation support, healthcare, and workforce training to help them start over in Rwanda.
Uganda is now the fourth African country, after South Sudan and Eswatini, to accept such migrants.
In July, 13 men described by the US as dangerous criminals were deported to South Sudan and Eswatini.
Some of them were held for weeks at a US military base in Djibouti as legal challenges continued in court.
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