The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is finalising a draft document on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons for submission to Cabinet, marking a step towards Uganda’s ratification of the regional agreement.
The development follows a five-day stakeholder technical workshop in Entebbe, during which government officials and other stakeholders updated Uganda’s Migration Regulatory Impact Assessment to inform the proposed ratification.
Once ratified and implemented, the protocol is expected to facilitate the movement of people, support cross-border trade and investment, expand economic opportunities and strengthen regional integration among IGAD member states.
Uganda signed the protocol on May 14, 2024, alongside other IGAD member states. It is now undergoing national processes ahead of consideration by Cabinet.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated the workshop, which brought together representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Immigration Department, the Office of the President, the Office of the Solicitor General, Interpol, the Uganda Police Force and other government agencies.
Solomon Kasasira, an IGAD desk officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Regional Peace and Security, said the assessment examined the protocol’s potential benefits and implications for Uganda, including areas where the country had expressed reservations.
“Over the last five days, we’ve been here for a regulatory impact assessment to go through the IGAD Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons. It’s a protocol that the Government of Uganda has been following. After signing the protocol, we go through a process that includes a regulatory impact assessment to prepare for the next stage, which is the ratification,” Kasasira said.
He explained that the process required consultations among government institutions to assess the agreement’s implications before Cabinet consideration.
“This is a process that’s done at Cabinet level, so we bring all stakeholders for this process. We have been going through the advantages of the protocol for Uganda. Why does Uganda have reservations and how will our people benefit? We have prepared a document that shows the benefits to Uganda,” he said.
Kasasira said the agreement could provide Ugandan traders with access to wider regional markets and alternative routes for exporting agricultural products.
He highlighted opportunities in Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti, arguing that stronger regional mobility could help Ugandan businesses diversify their export routes and reduce reliance on traditional trade corridors such as the Port of Mombasa.
The anticipated benefits include greater opportunities for traders, workers and service providers, although the extent of these gains will depend on the protocol’s implementation and the arrangements adopted by participating countries.
The agreement is also expected to support regional economic cooperation by making it easier for eligible people to move between member states under agreed conditions.
Speaking on behalf of IGAD, migration expert Agnes Igoye commended Uganda for bringing together a technical team to examine the protocol and its implications for national policy.
“As we conclude this important five-day technical workshop, IGAD expresses its sincere appreciation to all of you for your active participation, valuable contribution and commitment to advancing the free movement of persons in Uganda and across the region,” Igoye said.
She emphasised that the regulatory impact assessment was important in ensuring that decisions on ratification were based on evidence.
“This process goes beyond a technical exercise. It’s an important step towards ensuring that decisions on ratification are informed by credible evidence,” she said.
Ephrem Getnet, chief technical adviser for free movement of persons and transhumance in the IGAD region, said the workshop had updated the regulatory impact assessment and Cabinet memorandum, describing the work as a significant milestone in Uganda’s preparations.
He said further consultations would be necessary and indicated that technical support would remain available through cooperation between IGAD and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“We as ILO will be pleased to join you again with the IGAD Secretariat to support in that wider stakeholder consultation. But even beyond the national consultation, we remain available to provide the required support,” Getnet said.
He stressed that ratification would not mark the end of the process, pointing to the need for continued engagement and implementation planning.
IGAD brings together eight member states: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
The Protocol on Free Movement of Persons is intended to establish a framework for facilitating movement across the region, with potential implications for employment, trade, services and cross-border cooperation.
For Uganda, ratification would be an important step towards participating in the regional framework. However, the practical benefits would depend on the agreement’s entry into force, domestic implementation measures and cooperation among member states.
The completion of the regulatory impact assessment and preparation of the Cabinet memorandum move Uganda further along its national approval process. The protocol must still pass through the applicable ratification procedures before its provisions can be implemented nationally.
If implemented effectively, the agreement could create additional opportunities for Ugandan businesses and workers while strengthening economic ties across the Horn of Africa and the wider IGAD region.