KAMPALA UGANDA: 03 APRIL 2026— The Government of Uganda has confirmed implementing bilateral agreement with the United States, welcoming the first group of individuals transferred under a new “Safe Third Country” framework.
In a press statement released today, April 3, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a group of eight individuals arrived in Uganda from the U.S. on April 1. These individuals, all of African origin, had their cases reviewed and approved by a U.S. immigration judge prior to their transfer.
The cooperation stems from an Agreement for Cooperation in the Examination of Protection Requests signed in July 2025. The agreement is designed specifically for third-country nationals—individuals who are neither Ugandan nor American—who have been denied asylum in the U.S. but harbor valid concerns about returning to their home countries.
The Ministry, represented by Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, emphasized that the initiative is rooted in international legal obligations. By accepting these individuals, Bagiire says Uganda is positioning itself as a “safe third country,” providing a secondary venue for the assessment of protection claims.
A key pillar of this agreement is the principle of non-refoulement, which guarantees that: No individual is returned to a country where they face torture or degrading treatment, Protection requests are handled with dignity, regardless of a migrant’s legal status, and Privacy is maintained for all transferred individuals.
”Uganda continues to uphold its longstanding commitment to providing sanctuary to persons in need and ensuring that they are treated with dignity,” the statement read.
Why it Matters
Uganda has a long history of hosting refugees, currently serving as home to nearly two million displaced persons from across the region. This new agreement with the United States expands that role, creating a formal legal pathway for African nationals caught in the complexities of the U.S. immigration system to seek safety and have their cases evaluated in a stable environment.
While the specific details of the eight individuals remain confidential for privacy reasons, government says their arrival marks the operational start of a partnership that seeks to balance border management with humanitarian responsibility.