Law society rushes to court as US moves to ‘dump’ 12 deportees in Uganda

The Uganda Law Society has rushed to court to challenge what it describes as a plan by the United States to deport 12 individuals to Uganda under what it calls a “dehumanising” arrangement.

In a statement issued in Kampala on April 2, 2026, the Law Society, alongside the East Africa Law Society, said it had learnt of a plan to remove the individuals from the United States and transfer them to Uganda through what it termed an undignified process.

The lawyers said a privately operated aircraft carrying the deportees was expected to land at Entebbe International Airport.

They raised concern that key government institutions, including immigration authorities, Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had not been involved in the process.

According to the Law Society, there is no clear policy or legal framework guiding such transfers between countries. It warned that the arrangement raises serious legal and human rights concerns.

The group also alleged that private contractors could be involved in facilitating the deportations for financial gain. It said this risks reducing affected individuals to commodities, with little regard for their rights or welfare.

The lawyers argued that such actions reflect a troubling pattern of global practices that undermine dignity and equality. They warned that failure to challenge the move could set a dangerous precedent.

The Law Society said it has petitioned courts in Uganda and the region to halt the process and is seeking urgent legal relief. It also called on the public and media to pay attention to the issue and demand accountability.

The body urged courts to treat the matter with urgency, saying the implications go beyond a single deportation and touch on wider concerns about sovereignty, legality and human rights.

It added that it will continue to update the public as the case progresses.