KAMPALA, Uganda (BN24) — Uganda’s opposition leaders and rights advocates sharply criticized a newly revealed agreement with the United States to receive deported migrants, warning Tuesday that the deal lacks parliamentary oversight and risks serving the political interests of President Yoweri Museveni while straining Uganda’s already overburdened refugee system.
The agreement, which surfaced after U.S. officials detained high-profile human smuggling suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia in Baltimore, has sparked a storm of controversy in Kampala. The Department of Homeland Security said Abrego Garcia is being “processed for removal to Uganda,” though he is a citizen of El Salvador, not Uganda or Africa.
Ibrahim Ssemujju, a veteran opposition lawmaker, accused Museveni of leveraging the arrangement to ease international pressure following U.S. sanctions on his government. “Museveni will be happy to transact with Washington,” Ssemujju said. “He will be asking, ‘When are you bringing them?’”
Ugandan officials have disclosed few details about the deal but signaled they prefer deportees of African origin and will not accept those with serious criminal convictions. Still, opposition leaders argue the policy undermines Uganda’s sovereignty. “The whole scheme stinks,” said Mathias Mpuuga, former opposition leader in Parliament. “How can Uganda accept deportees when we already struggle to support refugees fleeing regional conflicts? This is purely economic expediency for Museveni’s government.”
The secrecy surrounding negotiations has only heightened suspicion. Okello Oryem, Uganda’s deputy foreign minister, initially dismissed reports of the deal as “complete rubbish.” But his own permanent secretary later confirmed that Uganda agreed to accept individuals “reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.” Critics claim Museveni personally oversaw the discussions.
Museveni, in power since 1986, has long portrayed himself as a reliable U.S. ally, particularly through his military’s counterterrorism deployments in Somalia against al-Shabab militants. But relations soured under the Biden administration over corruption, human rights abuses and anti-LGBTQ laws. Several of Museveni’s close allies, including parliamentary speaker Anita Among and multiple senior security officials, are under U.S. sanctions.
Analysts say the deportee agreement could signal a recalibration in Uganda’s ties with Washington. “For Museveni, this deal is attractive for political and perhaps economic reasons,” said Marlon Agaba, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda. “It eases pressure at home, potentially opens trade channels, and aligns with the Trump administration’s emphasis on transactional deal-making. Any strongman would welcome that.”
Opposition lawmakers insist Parliament must approve such a pact. “The matter should be handled by Parliament,” Ssemujju said. “Without authorization, it is flawed and illegitimate.”
The U.S. has previously deported groups of migrants to African nations willing to cooperate with Washington. In July, five men with criminal records were sent to Eswatini, eight to South Sudan, and Rwanda announced it would accept up to 250 deportees. Critics say Uganda’s participation further highlights the transactional nature of its diplomacy under Museveni.
As the controversy unfolds, ordinary Ugandans remain in the dark about what their government is receiving in return. For many, the deal represents yet another instance of Museveni tightening control while using foreign policy as a tool for political survival.
AP
