Uganda has received eight migrants from the United States under a migration cooperation deal signed between the two countries last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.
According to the ministry, the group arrived on April 1, 2026, as part of an agreement reached in July 2025 that allows Uganda to handle asylum applications for selected third-country nationals. The individuals are not citizens of either Uganda or the US but are all of African origin.
Authorities said each case had already been assessed and cleared by a US immigration judge before the relocation was carried out.
Under the arrangement, Uganda accepts individuals who do not meet the requirements for asylum in the US and cannot or choose not to return to their home countries. The government emphasized that the process is conducted within the framework of Uganda’s laws.
A key safeguard in the agreement is the principle of non-refoulement, which bars the return of individuals to places where they could face persecution, torture, or other forms of inhumane treatment. Officials stressed that this protection applies to all migrants, regardless of their legal status.
Uganda’s involvement in the deal is partly based on its reputation as a safe third country and its long history of hosting refugees. The country remains one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in Africa.
In its statement, the government reaffirmed its commitment to offering protection to vulnerable people while ensuring they are treated with dignity.
No further details about the identities or nationalities of the individuals have been released, with officials citing privacy concerns.
