Uganda: IGAD Free Movement Protocol Ratification Delayed

• IGAD urged regional journalists to focus on the economic benefits of regulated migration rather than sensationalism.
• The IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons aims to create a visa-free regional framework for rights of entry, stay, exit, labour mobility, residence, and establishment.
• Five IGAD member states (Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia) have signed the Protocol, but none have yet ratified it.
• Uganda's National Migration Policy 2025, approved in August 2025 and launched in March 2026, aligns with the IGAD Protocol and seeks to strengthen border governance and labour mobility.
• Security officials highlighted the need to distinguish legitimate migration from criminal exploitation by trafficking and smuggling networks.

Migration should be viewed as a catalyst for development, safety, prosperity, peace, and security, rather than being automatically linked to criminality.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) recently convened a three-day media training in Entebbe, urging journalists across its member states to adopt a more nuanced approach to migration reporting. The regional body called for a shift away from sensationalized coverage, advocating instead for reporting that highlights the economic advantages, regional integration potential, and human development benefits stemming from safe, orderly, and regulated mobility. This initiative brought together over 30 journalists and media professionals from IGAD nations, alongside key officials from Ministries of ICT and Internal Affairs, immigration authorities, and Interpol.

The training curriculum was comprehensive, covering critical topics such as the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, broader migration governance frameworks, the complexities of trafficking in persons, the illicit practice of migrant smuggling, and the principles of ethical reporting. Participants were encouraged to view migration not as an inherent problem, but as a dynamic force that, when managed effectively, can contribute significantly to regional prosperity and stability. The discussions underscored the importance of accurate and responsible communication in shaping public perception and policy around cross-border movement.

Lucy Daxbacher, a Senior Migration Expert at the IGAD Secretariat, emphasized that the Free Movement Protocol is designed to establish a visa-free regional framework. This framework is intended to guarantee rights related to entry, stay, exit, labour mobility, residence, and establishment for citizens within the signatory states. She highlighted that while five of the seven IGAD member states—Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia—have signed the Protocol, Djibouti and Kenya are currently studying its provisions. Crucially, none of the signatory nations have yet ratified the Protocol, a delay attributed in part to prevailing misconceptions surrounding its detailed provisions.

Despite the absence of full ratification, the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons is structured for progressive implementation, allowing each member state to adapt its provisions based on national capacity and specific circumstances. Daxbacher reiterated the perspective that migration should be recognized as a catalyst for development, safety, prosperity, peace, and security, rather than being automatically associated with criminality. This view is particularly pertinent given that young people constitute approximately 60% of the region's estimated 300 million inhabitants, making access to employment opportunities and robust labour mobility increasingly vital for the region's economic future.

Uganda is actively working towards the domestication of the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. Senior Immigration Officer Juliet Akello presented Uganda's National Migration Policy 2025 as a leading example of how national policies can bolster regional integration efforts. This policy, which received Cabinet approval in August 2025 and was subsequently launched in March 2026, is explicitly designed to align with the IGAD Free Movement Protocol. It aims to enhance border governance, strengthen migrant protection measures, and facilitate East Africa labour mobility law within its framework.

Akello confirmed that Uganda is pursuing various measures to expedite the ratification and domestication of the Protocol. These efforts are carefully balanced with the imperative to ensure that increased mobility does not compromise national security. The Uganda National Migration Policy 2025 represents a significant step in Uganda's migration policy domestication, demonstrating a commitment to managing cross-border movements in a structured and beneficial manner.

The training also delved into the inherent security challenges associated with increased cross-border movement, particularly the threats posed by trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. Senior Commissioner of Police Fred Enanga, who serves as the Deputy Director of Interpol and International Relations, explained that criminal organizations frequently exploit legitimate migration routes to generate illicit profits through these activities. He underscored that while individuals migrate for diverse reasons—including employment, trade, education, family reunification, tourism, and humanitarian concerns—the primary security objective is to prevent exploitation and organized crime without criminalizing legitimate movement.

Enanga urged journalists to clearly differentiate between legitimate migration and criminal exploitation, advocating for the establishment and maintenance of cross-border networks to enhance reporting on migration-related issues. He also encouraged media professionals to collaborate closely with security agencies, while always respecting the confidentiality of ongoing investigations. This collaborative approach is seen as crucial for providing accurate context and avoiding language that dehumanizes migrants, such as the use of terms like 'illegals,' as highlighted by Akello.

Both Akello and Enanga stressed that responsible reporting on IGAD member states migration must consider existing national, regional, and international frameworks governing migration. By adhering to these principles, the media can play a constructive role in fostering a better understanding of the complexities of migration and supporting the objectives of protocols like the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

Lawyers and compliance officers in IGAD member states, particularly Uganda, should closely track the ratification and domestication of the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. This will necessitate advising clients on evolving immigration laws, labour mobility frameworks, and cross-border business implications, as well as understanding national policies like Uganda's 2025 National Migration Policy.

Source: Original reporting via The New Vision