Travel Revolution Looms: Uganda Nears Ratification of IGAD Free Movement Protocol

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uganda is actively finalising a draft document concerning the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. This crucial document is slated for submission to Cabinet, marking a significant stride towards Uganda's official ratification of the regional agreement. This development follows a productive five-day stakeholder technical workshop held in Entebbe. During the workshop, government officials and various other stakeholders diligently updated Uganda's Migration Regulatory Impact Assessment, a vital step intended to inform and support the proposed ratification.

Upon its eventual ratification and subsequent implementation, the IGAD protocol is envisioned to bring about substantial benefits to the region. It is expected to significantly facilitate the movement of people across borders, thereby bolstering cross-border trade and investment. Furthermore, it aims to expand economic opportunities for citizens and strengthen the overall framework of regional integration among all IGAD member states. Uganda initially signed this protocol on May 14, 2024, alongside other member states of IGAD, and it is currently undergoing rigorous national processes before it reaches the Cabinet for consideration.

The technical workshop was meticulously coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing together a diverse array of representatives from key government ministries and agencies. These included officials 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, and the Uganda Police Force, among others. Solomon Kasasira, an IGAD desk officer within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Regional Peace and Security, explained the core objective of the assessment. He stated that it meticulously examined the protocol's potential benefits and implications for Uganda, including addressing specific areas where the country had previously expressed reservations.

Kasasira elaborated on the process, highlighting that the regulatory impact assessment was a necessary step after signing the protocol, serving as preparation for the subsequent stage of ratification. He stressed the importance of extensive consultations among various government institutions to thoroughly assess the agreement's implications prior to Cabinet consideration. According to Kasasira, these consultations involved all relevant stakeholders to thoroughly discuss the advantages of the protocol for Uganda, delve into the reasons for any reservations the country might have, and explore how Ugandans stand to benefit. A comprehensive document outlining these benefits for Uganda has since been prepared.

Highlighting specific economic advantages, Kasasira suggested that the agreement could grant Ugandan traders enhanced access to wider regional markets. It could also provide alternative and crucial routes for exporting agricultural products. He pointed to significant opportunities in countries such as Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Kasasira argued that improved regional mobility would empower Ugandan businesses to diversify their export routes, thereby reducing their reliance on traditional trade corridors, such as the Port of Mombasa. While the anticipated benefits include greater opportunities for traders, workers, and service providers, the ultimate extent of these gains will be contingent on the protocol's effective implementation and the specific arrangements adopted by participating countries. Additionally, the agreement is expected to foster regional economic cooperation by simplifying the movement of eligible individuals between member states under mutually agreed conditions.

Speaking on behalf of IGAD, migration expert Agnes Igoye commended Uganda for its initiative in assembling a dedicated technical team to meticulously examine the protocol and its implications for national policy. Igoye conveyed IGAD's sincere appreciation for the active participation, valuable contributions, and unwavering commitment demonstrated by all involved in advancing the free movement of persons in Uganda and across the broader region. She underscored the critical importance of the regulatory impact assessment, emphasising its role in ensuring that decisions pertaining to ratification are grounded in credible evidence.

Ephrem Getnet, the chief technical adviser for free movement of persons and transhumance in the IGAD region, acknowledged that the workshop had successfully updated both the regulatory impact assessment and the Cabinet memorandum. He hailed this work as a significant milestone in Uganda's preparations for ratification. Getnet also indicated that further consultations would be necessary and affirmed that technical support would remain readily available through ongoing cooperation between IGAD and the International Labour Organization (ILO). He stressed that ratification should not be viewed as the culmination of the process, but rather the beginning, pointing to the ongoing need for continued engagement and comprehensive implementation planning.

IGAD comprises eight member states: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. The Protocol on Free Movement of Persons is designed to establish a clear framework for facilitating movement across this entire region, with profound potential implications for employment, trade, services, and cross-border cooperation. For Uganda, ratification would represent an important and progressive step towards fully participating in this regional framework. However, the practical benefits will ultimately depend on the agreement's entry into force, the robustness of domestic implementation measures, and the level of cooperation achieved among all member states. The successful completion of the regulatory impact assessment and the meticulous preparation of the Cabinet memorandum signify that Uganda is well advanced in its national approval process. Nevertheless, the protocol must still successfully navigate through all applicable ratification procedures before its provisions can be effectively implemented at a national level. If implemented with diligence and effectiveness, the agreement holds the potential to unlock additional opportunities for Ugandan businesses and workers, simultaneously strengthening economic ties across the Horn of Africa and the wider IGAD region.