Uganda Receives First Group of African Nationals Under Landmark Safe Third Country Agreement with United States

Uganda has received its first group of African nationals transferred from the U.S. under a safe third country agreement signed to manage asylum applications.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 10:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Business Insider Africa

Operational Launch of the U.S. Uganda Migration Pact

The Ugandan government has officially commenced the implementation of a bilateral Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, receiving its first group of transferred migrants this week. This development follows a diplomatic pact concluded in July 2025, which designates Uganda as a processing hub for specific asylum seekers of African origin. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the inaugural group of eight individuals reached the country on April 1, 2026, after their cases were reviewed and approved by U.S. immigration authorities.

Strict Eligibility Criteria for Transferred Migrants

Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa has emphasized that the transfer program is governed by rigorous selection standards to maintain national security and social order. Under the current framework, Uganda will only accept individuals who do not possess criminal records, and the agreement explicitly excludes unaccompanied minors. Furthermore, the Ugandan government has stated a clear preference for migrants of African nationalities, an intentional move to ensure that the program operates within a compatible regional and cultural context.

International Legal Obligations and Non Refoulement

A central component of the agreement is Uganda’s commitment to assessing protection claims in strict accordance with both national legislation and international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored that the principle of non refoulement, which forbids the return of asylum seekers to countries where they face persecution, remains a cornerstone of the process. While the arrangement allows Uganda to act as a safe third country for those unable to stay in the U.S., the government maintains that this is a temporary logistical framework rather than a permanent resettlement mandate.