Uganda and the Netherlands have signed a letter of intent to establish Uganda as a transit point for returning rejected asylum seekers. This agreement, signed in New York, will apply to individuals from countries near Uganda who cannot be returned directly or voluntarily to their home countries within a reasonable time. The people will be temporarily housed in Uganda before repatriation. The move by the Netherlands, amidst growing anti-immigration sentiment in Europe, is aimed at controlling migration, though the plan's legality under international law is unclear. It highlights a broader trend of Western nations outsourcing migration control to African countries, following similar deals by the US and a policy shift by the European Union.
