The Ugandan government has urged its citizens living and doing business in Kenya to regularise their stay and operations following President William Ruto’s 90-day ultimatum to foreigners residing illegally in the country.Ugandan Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga urged Ugandans in Kenya to seek assistance from the Ugandan High Commission in Nairobi to comply with Kenyan immigration and business regulations.Speaking on Wednesday, September 8, Kadaga said Ruto’s directive should not be interpreted as an order to expel Ugandans but as a requirement for foreigners to formalise their stay and businesses.“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 urged Ugandans conducting business in Kenya to obtain the necessary licences and formalise their operations, particularly those involved in small-scale trade and hawking.“Those doing business need to regularise their businesses, get licences and bank accounts instead of just walking around and hawking,” she added.Kadaga noted that while citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states enjoy the right to move and work in partner states, they must comply with the laws of the host country.“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 directive by Yoweri Museveni’s administration came a day after Ruto ordered foreigners living illegally in Kenya to regularise their status within 90 days.State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed announced on Tuesday, September 8, that the window would allow affected foreign nationals to bring their immigration status and businesses into compliance with Kenyan law.“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 tight deadline has sparked widespread anxiety among foreigners, including Ugandan, Rwandan and Burundian nationals living in Kenya, who rely on small businesses such as selling coffee, peanuts, and mitumba.
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