News item | 25-09-2025 | 19:00
The Netherlands and Uganda are going to work together to have departure of departure return to their country of origin in the region via Uganda. Minister David van Weel van Asylum and Migration and Foreign Affairs and his Ugandan colleague Odongo Jeje Abubakhar of Foreign Affairs have today signed a letter of intent in New York, where they participate in the UN general meeting.
The cooperation is aimed at foreigners who have to leave the Netherlands and come from countries in the Uganda region and who are not independently or forced to leave the Netherlands independently or forced. They are temporarily taken care of in Uganda in a reception location. From there they have to leave for the country of origin. This collaboration is part of the broad and good relationship between Uganda and the Netherlands.
Just like in the Netherlands, it is the deployment that this happens voluntarily with the usual return support. The Netherlands and Uganda will work out the intention agreement in the coming period. Ultimately, this should lead to a small -scale test with a so -called Transit Hub For a limited number of rejected asylum seekers.
Foreigners without lawful residence, for example because their asylum request has been rejected, must leave the Netherlands and return to the country of origin. The focus is on voluntary departure. If someone does not cooperate, forced departure follows. If departure ultimately fails because, for example, the person concerned and the country of origin do not cooperate, the options are often exhausted. The Transit Hub is an expansion of the possibilities of the Netherlands to realize departure in these cases.
That is why the government is focusing on this closer migration cooperation with Uganda. The ministers emphasize that the agreements about one Transit Hub must be in line with national, European and international law. The legal and practical effect must be done carefully, whereby the (human) rights are protected.
Minister Van Weel: “We have to look at what is possible. That is why we are taking this step together with Uganda to get a grip on migration. Naturally, the protection of human rights is paramount of people who return to their country of origin via Uganda.”
With the signing of these agreements, the Netherlands and Uganda confirm the good mutual relationship. In addition, the Netherlands clearly shows its pioneering role within Europe when it comes to innovative solutions to get a grip on migration. When elaborating the concept, the cabinet has close contact with the European Commission and international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee organization UNHCR.