EU countries interested in Uganda plan for asylum seekers from the Netherlands

COPENHAGEN (ANP) – The idea for a return center in Uganda came from the now-resigned Dutch PVV minister Reinette Klever (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation). According to Van Hijum, officials in both the Netherlands and Uganda are working hard on the development of the plan. This is being done in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN refugee agency UNHCR, and European agencies.

“It must meet international standards and you must not act in violation of treaties,” said Van Hijum. “You cannot send people back to countries where they still face the risk of persecution.”

The conditions under which a return center is legally possible and will also function are being investigated according to the minister. “I am not in favor of a contentless concept. It should not become a story of ‘look how cool we are and we are now going to relocate people.’ No, it must work. You see a broad need in the European Union to develop this concept.”

If a return center is established in Uganda, it will start on a small scale. He is thinking more in terms of dozens rather than hundreds of rejected asylum seekers, but Van Hijum emphasizes that this is still a topic of discussion.

He cannot indicate when the plan will be ready for implementation.

(July 22, 2025)