Dutch plan to deport migrants to Uganda

The Dutch government is reviving its plans to deport refugees to Uganda, Dutch media reported. The reports mentioned Uganda as a third-country deportation center.

The proposed agreement with Uganda, which is similar to other similar plans to outsource immigration procedures to a third country, involves deporting people to the East African country whose asylum applications have been rejected and who are waiting to be returned to their countries of origin. In return, Uganda would receive financial compensation from the Netherlands.

The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid, Reinette Klever, launched the plan during a state visit to Uganda in October 2024.

“From now on, Dutch interests will take priority in our country’s development policy. All programs we fund must directly contribute to our interests,” Klever said in a statement.

The right-wing Dutch Party “For Freedom” (PVV) had previously proposed a nationwide state of emergency to implement strict immigration measures without the need for parliamentary approval. The coalition government instead agreed to move to restrictive asylum laws.

The deportation plan, while reportedly in its early stages, has drawn criticism from experts who say it violates EU law.

After Klever visited Uganda in October, local press reported that the proposal had sparked tensions within the East African country. Some Ugandan officials are said to have expressed concerns about the feasibility and moral implications of sheltering rejected asylum seekers from Europe.

Britain made a similar proposal to Rwanda in 2022. The proposal faced much opposition and was taken to the country's Supreme Court before being overturned by the Labour Party's election last July.

Local press quoted human rights expert Nicholas Opio as warning that the proposal would leave asylum seekers in legal limbo in both Uganda and the Netherlands.