2 September 2025 | 11:05 CAT
3-minute read

Uganda’s Deal with the US, Botswana’s Health Crisis, and Ethiopia’s Fragile Peace

Uganda’s decision to accept asylum seekers deported from the United States has stirred anger at home, where citizens are questioning whether the deal serves the people or entrenches President Yoweri Museveni’s hold on power. The controversy is part of a wider picture of governance struggles across Africa, highlighted by medicine shortages in Botswana and renewed fears of conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

Ayesha Kajee, South African governance and human rights consultant, told Radio Islam International that Ugandans see little benefit in the arrangement with Washington.

“Ugandans, firstly, are questioning what the political expedience of this move is, what’s in it for Uganda? Is there anything in it for Ugandan citizens? Or is it merely a move to ease the pressure on President Museveni, who has been in power for more than four decades now?” Kajee said.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, deportations of failed asylum seekers have been steadily increasing, and Uganda has become the fourth African nation to sign such an agreement. But human rights groups warn that Uganda, already hosting 1,6 million refugees—the highest number in Africa—cannot absorb more without further straining its resources.

Kajee noted that ordinary Ugandans fear additional risks.

“Ugandans are unhappy because A, they feel they have enough refugees already. B, they’re asking and questioning what’s in it for them as citizens of Uganda versus, you know, what’s in it for President Museveni and his allies in the government. And thirdly, they’re saying that if there is a criminal element that could enter Uganda as a result of this deal, that should be a cause of concern.”

While Uganda grapples with political discontent, Botswana has declared a public health emergency after severe medicine shortages left thousands unable to access treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

Corruption within the Central Medical Stores (CMS) has long plagued the country’s supply chain, with the Auditor General repeatedly flagging irregularities.

“In the meantime, of course, people on the ground are getting very, very worried that they won’t be able to access their chronic medication,” Kajee explained.

Botswana’s new president has pledged to overhaul procurement processes after an independent review found that essential medicines were being priced nearly nine times higher than market value. Health activists warn that without swift reforms, preventable deaths could rise sharply.

Meanwhile, in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia’s fragile peace is once again under threat. The federal government appears headed for another confrontation with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The last war, which erupted in 2020, killed an estimated 600 000 people and displaced millions.

Kajee cautioned that the stakes remain high, with neighbouring states also implicated. Eritrea has been accused of backing the TPLF, while other regional players provide logistical and military support to Addis Ababa.

Analysts at the International Crisis Group warn that renewed fighting could unravel the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, plunging Ethiopia back into war. For ordinary Ethiopians—whether of Tigrayan descent or not—the human toll remains the heaviest burden.

Listen to the Africa Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.