Opposition leaders and other critics in Uganda on Tuesday denounced a new agreement with the United States to accept deported migrants, faulting the lack of parliamentary approval and suggesting the deal is designed to ease international pressure on President Yoweri Museveni.
“This will make Museveni happy,” said opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Ssemujju. “He will be asking, ‘When are you bringing them?’” Ssemujju argued the arrangement gives Washington leverage while helping the Ugandan leader deflect U.S. sanctions that have targeted senior officials, including the parliamentary speaker.
Ugandan authorities have provided few details about the agreement. Officials have said they would prefer deportees of African origin and would not accept people with criminal records. Still, the country has emerged as a possible destination for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national accused of human smuggling. Abrego Garcia, who has been the subject of a long immigration battle, was detained Monday in Baltimore. The Department of Homeland Security said he “is being processed for removal to Uganda.”
Former opposition leader Mathias Mpuuga said bypassing parliamentary oversight rendered the deal unacceptable. “The whole scheme stinks,” he told reporters, questioning why Uganda—already hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflicts in neighboring states—would agree to take in deportees from the U.S. “The only logic here seems to be economic expediency for the government.”
It remains unclear what Uganda will gain in return. Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and ministers overseeing refugees and internal affairs were unavailable for comment. Okello Oryem, deputy foreign minister, initially dismissed reports of such a deal as “complete rubbish.” A day later, his permanent secretary confirmed that Uganda had agreed to accept individuals unwilling or reluctant to return to their countries of origin. Negotiations are believed to have been handled directly by Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.
Once regarded as a close U.S. ally for deploying troops to Somalia against al-Shabab militants, Museveni’s standing in Washington has eroded amid concerns over corruption, LGBTQ rights and other human rights abuses. The Biden administration has sanctioned several top Ugandan officials, including Speaker Anita Among, the prisons chief, a former police chief, and senior military figures. In 2023, Museveni dismissed the sanctions and declared he had no interest in visiting the U.S.
Analysts say the deportee deal may provide Museveni both political cover and potential trade benefits. “For political and perhaps economic reasons, it suits him,” said Marlon Agaba, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda. “The Trump administration is about deals, and any strongman would welcome that.”
Opposition lawmakers insist the matter should be subjected to parliamentary scrutiny. “Without parliamentary authorization, the agreement is fundamentally flawed,” said Ssemujju.
The U.S. has recently deported groups of migrants to other African countries. In July, five men with criminal records were sent to Eswatini and eight to South Sudan. Rwanda has also agreed to accept up to 250 deportees.
