Uganda has started engaging Kenyan authorities over concerns surrounding a crackdown on foreign traders, with Ugandan citizens operating in Kenya being advised to make sure their work permits and other documents are in order.
The move follows growing concern among foreign traders in Kenya, including Ugandans, who fear that the enforcement exercise could disrupt their businesses or, in some cases, force them to leave the country.
For many Ugandans, doing business in Kenya is part of everyday life. Traders cross the border in search of customers, supplies and better markets, while others have established permanent businesses in Kenyan towns and cities.
That makes the situation particularly sensitive for Uganda.
While Kampala has a responsibility to stand up for its citizens, officials also recognise that Kenya has the right to enforce its immigration and business laws. The challenge is ensuring that those laws are applied fairly and that Ugandans who are legally operating in the country are not unnecessarily targeted.
Ugandan authorities have consequently urged traders to check their documentation and comply with Kenyan requirements to avoid problems with authorities.
The developments have also brought the East African Community’s integration agenda into focus. The region has spent years encouraging the free movement of people, goods and services, with the aim of making it easier for East Africans to work and do business across borders.
For small traders, however, regional integration is measured less by policy statements and more by what happens when they cross a border to earn a living.
If legitimate traders begin facing repeated restrictions, harassment or uncertainty, the effects could stretch beyond individual businesses. Families that depend on cross-border income could feel the impact, while trade between two of East Africa’s most closely connected economies could also suffer.
Uganda and Kenya have deep economic ties, and neither country stands to benefit from a dispute that could disrupt ordinary trade.
The ongoing engagement between the two governments will therefore be important in finding a solution that respects Kenya’s laws while protecting Ugandan traders who are operating legally.
For now, Ugandans doing business in Kenya are being encouraged to remain compliant, while Kampala continues to engage Nairobi to ensure that the crackdown does not develop into a wider diplomatic or regional trade dispute.
