Politics 8 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Pursues Kenya Over Delayed Work Permits for Citizens
The Ugandan government is actively engaging with Kenyan authorities to address the delays in processing work permits and trading licenses for its citizens residing and operating businesses in Kenya. This follows a recent crackdown by Kenya on foreign nationals involved in small-scale businesses without proper documentation. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-engages-kenya-over-delayed-work-permits-trading-licences-5588544
Uganda is seeking urgent clarification from Kenya regarding a backlog of pending work permits and trading licenses for Ugandan nationals. The Office of the President’s Diaspora Affairs has confirmed that diplomatic channels are being used to ascertain the status of these applications, which have been a source of concern for many Ugandans working and doing business in Kenya.
The intervention comes in the wake of a directive from Kenyan President William Ruto, ordering a crackdown on foreign nationals operating small-scale businesses, such as hawking and petty retail, without the necessary licenses. This enforcement action has created significant uncertainty for Ugandans whose permit and license applications are still awaiting approval.
Aisha Ahmad, head of communication at the Office of the President’s Diaspora Affairs, stated that the Ugandan government had initiated discussions with Kenyan authorities even before the recent crackdown was announced. “We have had reports and complaints from our diaspora in Kenya who have consistently complained about applying for work permits and trading licenses, but the Kenyan government was not listening to them,” Ms. Ahmad explained.
The government is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uganda’s diplomatic mission in Kenya to determine how many applications have been approved, how many remain pending, and which cases require specific intervention. The goal is to ensure that Ugandan citizens operating legally in Kenya are not unduly affected by the new enforcement measures.
While no specific timeline has been provided for the resolution of these pending applications, Ms. Ahmad assured that discussions with relevant Kenyan authorities are ongoing. The Ugandan government is committed to monitoring the situation closely and advocating for its citizens. The Office of the President’s Diaspora Affairs will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ugandan mission in Kenya to follow up on all affected applications.