The Digester
politics

Ugandan lawyers challenge arrival of 12 US deportees

A private flight carrying a dozen people from the United States landed at Entebbe under a third country deportation deal, prompting court action by the Uganda Law Society and the East Africa Law Society.

Apr 2nd 2026 · Uganda

Insights

  • Twelve people flown from the United States landed at Entebbe by private aircraft in the first confirmed transfer to Uganda.
  • The Uganda Law Society and the East Africa Law Society have filed court challenges calling the deportations dehumanising and illegal.
  • Uganda signed a temporary third country deportation arrangement with the US that the foreign ministry said excludes unaccompanied children and people with criminal records.
  • The US has struck similar third country deportation deals with several African states, including Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, Eswatini and South Sudan.
  • Some countries received multimillion dollar payments to accept deportees and Senate Democrats estimate at least $40 million has been paid in such incentives.
  • Critics note prior US concerns about human rights in Uganda and point out the country already hosts about 1.7 million refugees, raising safety and capacity questions.

Sources