Uganda Reaches Temporary Migrant Deal with the U.S. Amidst Conflicting Reports

By Kennedy Nalyanya

Kampala, Uganda — In a significant development, Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday, August 21, 2025, that the country has reached a temporary agreement with the United States to accept certain third-country nationals. This official statement, delivered by Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, follows an earlier, public denial by another top official, creating confusion and drawing attention to the U.S.'s broader deportation strategy.

The deal specifies that Uganda will take in "nationals from third countries who may not get asylum in the US but are reluctant to return to their countries of origin." Bagiire emphasized that this is a "temporary arrangement" with specific conditions: individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted. The ministry also expressed a preference for receiving people of African origin.

The confirmation comes just a day after a contradictory statement was made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem. On Wednesday, Oryem publicly denied the existence of any such agreement, telling the media that Uganda "does not have the facilities and infrastructure" to accommodate such people. Oryem's denial was a direct response to a CBS News report which, citing internal U.S. government documents, claimed that the Trump administration had secured deportation deals with both Uganda and Honduras.

This agreement is part of the U.S. government's aggressive campaign under the Trump administration to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The U.S. has been pursuing similar "safe third country" deals with various nations to expand the speed and scope of its deportations.

As of Thursday, Uganda's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the two parties are still "working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented." The contradictory statements from high-ranking Ugandan officials highlight the complex and sensitive nature of these international agreements and the potential domestic fallout