US Deports Eight People ‘of African Origin’ to Uganda

A group of eight individuals, originating from various African nations, were recently sent to Uganda from the United States under a new migration agreement established last year. The transfer occurred following a US judicial decision that cleared their cases, according to Uganda’s foreign ministry. The ministry emphasized that the arrangement designates Uganda as a safe destination for migrants unable to return to their home countries due to risks like persecution.

“Uganda continues to uphold its longstanding commitment to providing sanctuary to persons in need and assuring they are treated with dignity,” stated the ministry, though it noted limited details about the deportees for privacy concerns.

The Uganda Law Society criticized the process, calling it “undignified, harrowing, and dehumanising” for those displaced. The organization claimed the procedure was unlawful and plans to contest it in court. The BBC has sought comments from the US Department of Homeland Security on the matter.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been actively removing undocumented migrants, a policy that has seen the deportation of dozens to third countries since his January 2017 inauguration. Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the legality of this approach. Uganda, along with Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, has agreed to accept deported individuals provided they do not have criminal records, as reported by CBS News.

The US cited the migrants’ criminal convictions as a justification for their transfer, stating many had been found guilty of offenses. The foreign ministry highlighted that the deportees were neither Ugandan nor US citizens but were “of African origin who may not be granted asylum in the USA and are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their country of origin.”

Additional reporting by Richard Kagoe. For more news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Follow us on @BBCAfrica, Facebook, or Instagram.