Ugandans in Kenya Warned After Ruto’s Urgent Directive

Ugandan nationals living and operating businesses in Kenya have been advised to urgently ensure that their immigration and business documents are in order following a new directive giving undocumented foreigners 90 days to regularise their status.

Ugandan Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga called on Ugandans in Kenya to seek guidance from the Ugandan High Commission in Nairobi and take the necessary steps to comply with Kenyan laws.

Kadaga said the directive issued by Kenyan President William Ruto should not be viewed as a plan to remove Ugandans or other East Africans from Kenya. Instead, she explained that it is aimed at ensuring foreign nationals living and working in the country have the required permits, registrations and licences.

She particularly encouraged Ugandans involved in informal and small-scale trade to formalise their businesses rather than operating without the necessary documentation.

According to Kadaga, traders should obtain the appropriate licences and establish formal financial arrangements, including bank accounts, to ensure their businesses comply with Kenyan regulations.

She also addressed the issue within the wider framework of the East African Community, noting that citizens of member states have agreements that facilitate movement, employment and establishment across the region.

However, she stressed that these regional arrangements do not remove the responsibility of individuals to obey the laws of the country where they are living or conducting business.

Kadaga pointed out that the EAC has not yet become a political federation and that member countries continue to retain their sovereignty. As a result, East Africans exercising their regional rights must still follow the legal procedures established by the host country.

The warning comes shortly after President Ruto directed foreigners who are in Kenya without proper documentation to regularise their status within a 90-day period.

State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said the exercise would give affected foreign nationals an opportunity to bring their immigration and commercial activities into line with Kenyan requirements.

The government said anyone operating a business in Kenya must meet the relevant immigration, work-permit, business registration and licensing obligations. Authorities described the 90-day period as an organised opportunity for those affected to correct their status.

The announcement has nevertheless caused concern among foreign nationals from several neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Many of those affected are engaged in small-scale businesses and informal trading activities, with some earning their livelihoods by selling products such as coffee, peanuts and second-hand clothing.

For Ugandans in Kenya, the message from their government is therefore clear: the 90-day window should be treated as an opportunity to put their documentation and businesses in order rather than as an immediate threat of mass expulsion.