)
)
The government of Uganda is mulling over the process of setting up a hub for asylum seekers deported from Europe, officials have revealed.
In January 2025, the Dutch Ambassador to Uganda met with government officials to discuss a potential plan to establish "return hubs" in Uganda for African asylum-seekers whose applications for asylum in European countries have been rejected.
The talks, which also involved discussions on the logistics and operational details, are part of wider efforts within the European Union (EU) to tackle the ongoing immigration crisis.
While Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment officially, an anonymous source within the ministry confirmed that the Dutch Ambassador and Ugandan officials had serious discussions about the possibility of Uganda hosting these hubs.
)
)
)
)
EU’s Proposal to Outsource Asylum Processing
The idea of setting up offshore return hubs has gained traction among European leaders. In October 2024, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advocated for such initiatives to help address irregular immigration.
The European Commission formalised the proposal in March 2025, suggesting that these return hubs could expedite the removal of illegal migrants from EU countries. The proposal, however, has not yet been fully approved by the European Parliament or the Council of the EU.
While proponents argue that these hubs could ease the immigration burden on European countries, critics, including immigration lawyers, warn of potential human rights issues.
Some fear that asylum-seekers sent to Uganda may face an uncertain future, with unclear legal status and a lack of protection.
However, human rights lawyer Henry Byansi believes that Uganda’s long history of hosting refugees might mitigate some of these concerns, as the country has an open-door policy and could negotiate benefits for migrant workers.
Uganda’s Refugee Policy and the Growing Pressure
Uganda already hosts over 1.7 million refugees, primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the challenges, the country has been praised for its welcoming approach to refugees.
Critics, however, argue that Uganda may struggle with the increased burden that return hubs could bring. The move also raises questions about the responsibility and jurisdiction for the migrants’ welfare, with organisations like Amnesty International raising concerns over the lack of clarity and the potentially harmful effects on those sent to these hubs.
As EU talks intensify, the future of Uganda’s role in managing international migration remains uncertain, but the country’s position as a refugee host in Africa could become even more central in the years to come.