Lira, Uganda | Government officials and security agencies have called for stronger coordination, enhanced border management, and improved public awareness on immigration laws to address rising migration dynamics driven by regional trade, labour mobility, and economic transformation.
The call was made during a high-level stakeholder engagement held on April 21, 2026, at Margarita Palace Hotel in Lira City, bringing together immigration officials, local government leaders, and security agencies from across the Lango subregion.
Assistant Commissioner in the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC), Kaahwa Kato Robert, who represented the Chief of Citizenship and Immigration Control Officer Col. Geoffrey Brian Kambere said the engagement was designed to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders through consultation, feedback sharing, and policy alignment.
He noted that migration has become a defining feature of globalization, with increased movement of both foreign nationals into Uganda and Ugandans seeking opportunities abroad.
Kaahwa emphasized that this trend has significant implications for national security, service delivery, and economic growth, calling for coordinated management of cross-border movement across Uganda’s 2,720-kilometre border.
He identified key migration drivers as regional conflicts resulting in refugee inflows, expanding trade, education mobility, and labour migration, particularly among young people.
However, he raised concern over rising cases of human trafficking and migrant smuggling linked to unemployment, noting that trafficking involves coercion and exploitation, while smuggling often occurs with consent.
He cited reports indicating that about 150,000 Ugandans are working in Saudi Arabia, over 120,000 in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), with others in Qatar and Jordan, some through legal channels and others through irregular networks.
Kaahwa highlighted challenges including porous borders, limited enforcement capacity, difficulties in distinguishing categories of migrants, and resource constraints.
He called for strengthened inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and regional coordination, including the use of platforms such as Interpol.
He further pointed to ongoing reforms, including automated border management systems and One-Stop Border Posts, describing immigration data as critical for national planning.
Kaahwa also referenced the newly launched national migration policy, now under implementation, which will guide standard operating procedures and priority interventions.
He stressed the need to improve monitoring of foreign nationals, strengthen movement control systems, and enhance stakeholder participation, adding that effective migration management requires professionalism, integrity, and teamwork.
Senior Immigration Officer for Lira Regional Immigration Office, John Bosco Berebera, said the engagement aimed to enhance awareness and compliance with immigration laws among employers, investors, and local leaders.
He noted that Lango subregion is undergoing rapid economic transformation, driven by agro-processing industries, the ongoing railway project, development of Akii Bua Stadium, and expansion of retail and pharmaceutical sectors.
Berebera said these developments are attracting increased labour inflows, creating both economic opportunities and regulatory challenges.
He warned of rising risks of irregular migration, undocumented employment, and non-compliance by employers.
Berebera outlined the objectives of the engagement as improving understanding of immigration requirements, promoting safe migration practices, and clarifying the rights and obligations of employers and workers.
He emphasized that effective migration management depends on both the facilitation of legal movement and the strict enforcement of compliance.
Lira City Mayor Sam Atul welcomed the engagement, noting that Lira City serves as a key regional hub for trade and cross-border movement involving South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.
He raised concern over ambiguity in classifying migrants at the local government level, calling for a clearer interpretation of immigration laws to guide implementation.
The mayor also highlighted confusion around East African Community (EAC) free movement provisions, questioning why EAC citizens are still often treated as foreign nationals despite regional agreements.
He called for stronger public awareness, capacity building for local leaders, and improved national policy clarity.
Atul further pointed to gaps in data and representation during international migration forums, urging government support to strengthen Uganda’s participation.
He confirmed that Lira City has allocated land for an immigration office and expressed readiness to provide additional infrastructure to support service delivery.
He also raised concern over undocumented migrants residing in urban areas, calling for clear frameworks to balance service access with legal compliance.
Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Lira City East Division, Stephen Odongo, who represented RCC Lawrence Egole, commended the engagement, describing it as timely and aligned with national priorities.
He emphasized that documentation and compliance are critical components of national security and service delivery.
Odongo praised efforts by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and DCIC to decentralize immigration services, saying it brings governance closer to the people.
He called for intensified public sensitisation to address misinformation on immigration laws, stressing that enforcement must go hand in hand with awareness creation.
He urged security agencies and technical officers to disseminate information to communities to improve compliance and strengthen national security.
The meeting concluded with a unified call for strengthened inter-agency coordination, improved infrastructure, enhanced public education, and strict adherence to immigration laws.
The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC), also known as the National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC), is an agency under Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs responsible for managing migration, citizenship, and border control. Its core services include issuing passports such as the International e-Passport, processing visas and passes (including single-entry, transit, multiple-entry, and the East African Tourist Visa), issuing work and residence permits, handling citizenship applications through naturalisation, registration and dual citizenship, and regulating movement at Uganda’s 72 gazetted entry and exit points including Entebbe International Airport and major border posts like Busia.
