Editorial
Sep 25, 2025
The Netherlands and Uganda have signed a letter of intent to create a reception center for rejected Dutch asylum seekers, an initiative aimed at facilitating their return to their country of origin while respecting human rights.
The Netherlands and Uganda signed a letter of intent on Thursday to establish a return center in Uganda for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected in the Netherlands. This initiative comes just weeks before the Dutch elections scheduled for October, following the collapse of the government when Geert Wilders , the far-right leader, withdrew his party from the ruling coalition due to a disagreement over asylum rules.
The plan concerns people from countries neighboring Uganda who must leave the Netherlands but cannot be returned directly or voluntarily . These migrants will be temporarily housed in a reception center in Uganda before being repatriated to their country of origin.
In a statement, Dutch Immigration Minister David Van Weel said: "We need to start focusing more on what can be done rather than what cannot be done. That is why we are taking this step with Uganda to control migration."
The statement also specifies that the provisions of the transit centre must comply with national, European and international law , and guarantee that the human rights of the persons concerned are preserved .
This initiative, first announced in 2024, had already drawn criticism, with some opposition parties calling it unrealistic . Geert Wilders, for his part, had called for drastic restrictions on asylum , including a freeze on applications, limits on family reunification, and a halt to the construction of new reception centers.