Uganda Agrees to Host US-Rejected Migrants Despite Already Heavy Refugee Burden
Uganda has reached an agreement with the United States to accept migrants denied asylum in America, despite already carrying one of the largest refugee populations in Africa.
A senior official from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development on Thursday, noting that the deal involves individuals who are unwilling or unable to return to their home countries after being denied stay in the US.
Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire, in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), emphasized that the arrangement is temporary. He explained:
“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.”
While the exact number of migrants expected and the terms of their stay were not disclosed, authorities assured that Uganda is prepared to handle the resettlement process.
Uganda is already home to over a million refugees, mostly fleeing conflict in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it one of the top refugee-hosting countries in the world.
