The Netherlands is pushing forward with a controversial asylum pilot program with Uganda, aiming to deter potential migrants by establishing a “transit hub” where rejected asylum seekers from East Africa will be processed. Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs and Migration, David van Weel, expressed urgency in securing progress on the initiative within the coming months, according to an interview published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The core objective, van Weel stated, is to fundamentally shift the calculations of those seeking asylum in Europe. Currently, many believe they can remain even if their claims are initially rejected. The Dutch government intends to dispel this perception by making it clear, “before” arrival, that asylum in Europe is not a guaranteed outcome. This, he argues, represents a significant deterrent.
While denying the possibility of detention-like facilities at the Ugandan hub, van Weel described a system involving open accommodation coupled with vocational training and other assistance programs. The expectation is that asylum seekers processed through this system will ultimately return to their countries of origin. The Netherlands is reportedly avoiding direct payment per individual transferred but is considering indirect support through contributions to organizations like the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, facilitating their collaboration in the project.
A particularly sensitive aspect of the program involves the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. Recognizing Uganda’s recent implementation of a draconian law criminalizing homosexual acts, potentially carrying the death penalty, van Weel indicated the possibility of excluding individuals identifying as homosexual from the mandatory transit process. He suggested that, given the severe risk of persecution, these individuals might be considered for asylum directly within the Netherlands, highlighting a complex ethical dilemma at the heart of the Dutch policy.
Critics are already raising serious concerns about the legality, morality and potential human rights implications of outsourcing asylum processing to a country with Uganda’s record on human rights and LGBTQ+ rights. The program’s effectiveness as a deterrent remains unproven, while the potential for exploitation and the ethical compromises involved are likely to fuel ongoing debate.