In recent years, the Netherlands has been grappling with a surge in fraudulent asylum claims, particularly from individuals hailing from Uganda.

The Dutch government has responded with stringent measures aimed at curbing this misuse of the asylum system, which has not only complicated the process for genuine applicants but also strained the country’s resources.

The root of this issue lies in the exploitation of provisions intended to protect LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing persecution.

Following the enactment of Uganda’s Antihomosexuality law, reports have surfaced of heterosexual Ugandans falsely claiming membership in the LGBTQ+ community to secure refugee status abroad. Organized networks have emerged, offering training and even selling “ready-made” visa applications to exploit these provisions for financial gain. This exploitation has not gone unnoticed by Dutch immigration authorities.

A 2020 report highlighted a significant increase in Ugandans entering the Netherlands on short-stay visas and subsequently applying for asylum under pretences. Consequently, the acceptance rate of Ugandan asylum applications has plummeted, dropping from 50% in 2015 to a mere 29% in 2018.

One such case, uncovered by the Global Press Journal, involves a Ugandan woman who admitted to fabricating her sexual orientation to gain asylum in the Netherlands. Despite having a master’s degree in business administration, she resorted to deception, believing it was the only means of securing a better life for herself and her family.

This woman applied for a three-month tourist visa at the Dutch Embassy in Uganda to visit a friend, with her other plan already in motion. After three weeks, her visa was ready. On arriving in the Netherlands, she says she applied for refugee status as a lesbian.

“I cut my hair short and wore [baggy] men’s clothes,” she says. This, she believed, would prove that she was a lesbian. She believes that lying about her sexuality is the only guarantee of remaining in the Netherlands.

“I was given a house, health insurance and a monthly stipend of about 1.5 million Ugandan shillings [about 410 euros] by the Dutch government — things I would never have gotten had I told them I was straight. In my entire life as an educated woman with a master’s degree in business administration, I had never received such huge amounts of money monthly,” she says.

Sabine Jansen, a researcher at a human rights group, has raised concerns over the discriminatory nature of the Dutch immigration department’s assessments, which often rely on stereotypes rather than genuine need. Such practices, she argues, unfairly disadvantage LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing persecution.

“The Dutch immigration department’s assessments seem to be based on stereotypes, which unfairly discriminate against Ugandan LGBTI people,” she said in an email interview. In 2022, two Ugandan men lost a court case when the Dutch immigration department withdrew their status, not believing their declared homosexual orientation.

Concerns

However, the Dutch government contends that fraudulent claims not only undermine the integrity of the asylum process but also place a burden on genuine applicants facing real danger in their home countries. Corruption within the system further exacerbates these challenges, with reports of officials demanding bribes to expedite asylum processes.

In response, the Dutch government has ramped up its vigilance, implementing more rigorous interview and verification processes to discern the authenticity of asylum claims. Moses Makumbi, a commissioner with Uganda’s Ministry of Ethics and Integrity, emphasizes the importance of upholding the integrity of immigration processes to safeguard the credibility of both countries.

For Nicholas Opio, a human rights lawyer, the issue extends beyond asylum fraud. Economic hardship and a sense of insecurity compel individuals to seek refuge abroad, even if it means resorting to deception. The repercussions, however, are far-reaching, leaving both genuine asylum seekers and host countries caught in a web of deceit and mistrust.

As the Dutch government continues its crackdown on asylum fraud, the plight of those genuinely in need of protection remains a pressing concern. Balancing the need for robust immigration controls with compassion for those fleeing persecution is a delicate task—one that requires cooperation and empathy on an international scale.