Often praised for having an open-door policy for refugees, Uganda closed its borders in March, leaving thousands of refugees and asylum seekers stranded and unable to enter the country (see 6 April update). Since May, approximately 10,000 refugees have been camped out on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border, having fled escalating violence in eastern […]
Uganda: Covid-19 and Detention
Despite the country’s open-door policy towards refugees and asylum seekers, on 25 March authorities announced measures to suspend the reception of new refugees and asylum seekers for thirty days. Transit and reception centres were ordered to close immediately, while flights in and out of the country have been suspended and borders sealed. Refugees who are […]
Last updated: July 2024
DETENTION CAPACITY
ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION
ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA
PRISON DATA
POPULATION DATA
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS
LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
GROUNDS FOR DETENTION
Immigration-Status-Related Grounds
Criminal Penalties for Immigration-Related Violations
Grounds for Criminal Immigration-Related Incarceration / Maximum Length of Incarceration
Has the Country Decriminalised Immigration-Related Violations?
LENGTH OF DETENTION
DETENTION INSTITUTIONS
PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS
COSTS & OUTSOURCING
COVID-19 DATA
TRANSPARENCY
MONITORING
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES
NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS)
GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES
INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES
International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1986
2017
ICRMW, International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
1995
2017
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 10/19
Relevant Recommendations or Observations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Treaty Body
Human Rights Committee
Recommendation Year
2023
Recommendation Excerpt
(c) Intensify its efforts to strengthen legislation, including the visa policy, and
regulations protecting migrant workers against abuse and exploitation, facilitate access
to effective legal remedies, with interpreting services, and ensure that workers can
access those remedies without fear of reprisal, detention or deportation.....
43. Bearing in mind the Committee’s previous recommendations,9 the State party
should establish a statutory time limit on the duration of immigration detention and
ensure that detention is used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest
possible period of time, and increase the use of alternatives to detention, particularly
for children, pregnant women and families with children, that are respectful of human
rights, including the right to privacy, instead of surveillance-based technological
alternatives.
regulations protecting migrant workers against abuse and exploitation, facilitate access
to effective legal remedies, with interpreting services, and ensure that workers can
access those remedies without fear of reprisal, detention or deportation.....
43. Bearing in mind the Committee’s previous recommendations,9 the State party
should establish a statutory time limit on the duration of immigration detention and
ensure that detention is used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest
possible period of time, and increase the use of alternatives to detention, particularly
for children, pregnant women and families with children, that are respectful of human
rights, including the right to privacy, instead of surveillance-based technological
alternatives.
Sources
Human Rights Committee, "Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland*", 03 May 2024, United Nation General Assembly, (paragraph 43 and 52), https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/document/a57bc16a-5701-4bff-af2d-caba1b4c24dc
Treaty Body
Committee on Migrant Workers
Recommendation Year
2015
Recommendation Excerpt
"take the necessary steps to ensure that in administrative and judicial proceedings, including detention and expulsion proceedings, migrant workers and members of their families, particularly those in an irregular situation, are guaranteed due process on an equal basis with nationals of the state party before the courts and tribunals in administrative and judicial proceedings. in the light of the committee’s general comment no. 2 (2013) on the rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families, the committee recalls that administrative detention should only be used as a measure of last resort, and recommends that the state party consider alternatives to administrative detention. the committee further recommends that the state party:
(a) include in its second periodic report detailed disaggregated information on the number of migrant workers detained for immigration offences, and the place, average duration and conditions of their detention;
(b) provide updated information, including disaggregated statistics, on the number of migrant worker expulsions as well as the procedures used;
(c) ensure that the minimum guarantees enshrined in the convention are assured with regard to administrative and judicial procedures against migrant workers and members of their families."
(a) include in its second periodic report detailed disaggregated information on the number of migrant workers detained for immigration offences, and the place, average duration and conditions of their detention;
(b) provide updated information, including disaggregated statistics, on the number of migrant worker expulsions as well as the procedures used;
(c) ensure that the minimum guarantees enshrined in the convention are assured with regard to administrative and judicial procedures against migrant workers and members of their families."
Sources
Concluding observations on the initial report of Uganda*, CMW/C/UGA/CO/1, 22 May 2015
Global Detention Project and Partner Submissions to Treaty Bodies
Treaty Body
Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW)
Session Date
1 December 2025
Date of Submission
2025
Session Information
41st Session
Submission Type
List of Issues Prior to Reporting
Recommendation Impact
Pending
Sources
Global Detention Project, "Submission to the CMW - Uganda," 4 November 2025, https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/uganda-submission-to-the-un-committee-on-migrant-workers
> UN Special Procedures
> UN Universal Periodic Review
Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Recommendation Issued
No
Year Issued
2011
Sources
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review* Uganda, A/HRC/19/16, 22 December 2011 https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/uganda/session_12_-_october_2011/ahrc1916ugandae.pdf
Recommendation Issued
No
Year Issued
2016
Sources
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review* Uganda, A/HRC/34/10, 27 December 2016, https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/uganda/session_26_-_november_2016/a_hrc_34_10_en.pdf
REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
Regional Legal Instruments
Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
Observation Date
HEALTH CARE PROVISION
HEALTH IMPACTS
COVID-19
Country Updates
Often praised for having an open-door policy for refugees, Uganda closed its borders in March, leaving thousands of refugees and asylum seekers stranded and unable to enter the country (see 6 April update). Since May, approximately 10,000 refugees have been camped out on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border, having fled escalating violence in eastern DRC. However, following a 16 June decision, President Yoweri Museveni ordered authorities to temporarily re-open some border crossings to allow entry to those seeking protection. During 1-3 July, more than 3,000 Congolese asylum seekers were able to enter the country. The government’s decision was praised by UNHCR, whose spokesman in Uganda said, “It proves that even in the midst of a global crisis like COVID-19, there are ways to manage border restrictions in a manner which respects international human rights and refugee protection standards.” Despite the move, however, people trying to enter from South Sudan continue to be denied entry.
Those permitted entry are quarantined in a facility in Zombo near the border that can accommodate up to 6,000 people. Following mandatory quarantine, all asylum seekers are to be transferred to existing refugee camps within the country. However, as rights groups have highlighted, living conditions in Uganda’s refugee camps are poor and conducive to the spread of the virus. In a statement released shortly after announcement of the order to allow Congolese asylum seekers entry into the country, the Global Refugee-Led Network-Africa Chapter also urged authorities to ensure that quarantine conditions are dignified, “and to develop more general measures to admit people needing international protection at other border points.”
Meanwhile, Ugandan authorities have released groups of prisoners during the crisis—including 74 Congolese fishermen who had been confined in penal facilities in Katwe and Mubuku since 2018/2019. (Between July 2018 and the end of 2019, Uganda stepped up its patrols on Lake Edouard, and arrested more than 400 Congolese fishermen found in Ugandan waters.)
Despite the country’s open-door policy towards refugees and asylum seekers, on 25 March authorities announced measures to suspend the reception of new refugees and asylum seekers for thirty days. Transit and reception centres were ordered to close immediately, while flights in and out of the country have been suspended and borders sealed. Refugees who are already in the country will continue to receive support.
Handwashing and temperature screening facilities have been put in place at points of entry as well as transit centres and reception centres.
Government Agencies
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - https://mofa.go.ug/
Directorate of Citizenship and Immgration Control - https://immigration.go.ug/
International Organisations
UNHCR Country Office - https://www.unhcr.org/where-we-work/countries/uganda
IOM Country Office - https://uganda.iom.int/
ILO Country Office - https://www.ilo.org/regions-and-countries/africa/uganda
NGO & Research Institutions
Caritas Kampala - https://www.caritaskampala.org/
Cafomi - https://www.cafomi.org/about-us/
Amnesty Country Page - https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/uganda/
Human Rights Watch - https://www.hrw.org/africa/uganda
Media
Monitor - https://www.monitor.co.ug/
Observer - https://observer.ug/
ChimpReorts - https://chimpreports.com/
