The Ugandan government has called on its citizens living and operating businesses in Kenya to regularise their immigration status and commercial activities following President William Ruto’s 90-day ultimatum targeting foreigners residing in the country illegally.
Ugandan Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga urged Ugandans in Kenya to seek guidance from the Ugandan High Commission in Nairobi to ensure they comply with Kenyan immigration and business laws.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 8, Kadaga clarified that Ruto’s directive should not be viewed as an attempt to expel Ugandans or other foreign nationals, but rather as a requirement for foreigners to formalise their stay and business operations.
“I do not want this to be understood as an expulsion of non-Kenyans. It is a directive for foreigners to regularise and register their stay,” Kadaga said.
She further called on Ugandans running businesses in Kenya, particularly those engaged in small-scale trade and hawking, to obtain the required licences and properly register their operations.
“Those doing business need to regularise their businesses, get licences and bank accounts instead of just walking around and hawking,” she added.
Kadaga acknowledged that although citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states have the right to move, work and establish businesses across partner states, they are still required to observe the laws and regulations of the countries hosting them.
“We are not yet a federation. We still have a sovereignty obligation and right. But EAC protocol allows people to move, work and establish in different partner states, but it should be done in the right manner,” she said.
The call by President Yoweri Museveni’s administration came a day after Ruto directed foreigners living in Kenya illegally to regularise their status within 90 days.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed announced on Tuesday, September 8, that the 90-day window would give affected foreign nationals an opportunity to bring both their immigration status and business activities into compliance with Kenyan laws.
“Every person conducting business in Kenya is required to comply with applicable immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements. Over the next 90 days, the Government will conduct an orderly regularisation exercise to facilitate compliance,” Hussein said.
The announcement has triggered anxiety among foreign nationals living in Kenya, including Ugandans, Rwandans and Burundians, many of whom depend on small-scale businesses such as selling coffee, peanuts and mitumba to earn a living.
