The Ugandan government has ordered the arrest of citizens captured crossing into Kenya to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election. First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga directed authorities in districts bordering Kenya to stop Ugandans from crossing the border for political or electoral activities. This move comes after a KTN exposé alleged that Ugandan nationals were acquiring Kenyan IDs and registering as voters.
The districts affected by this directive are Bukwa, Moroto, Amudat, Namisindwa, Busia, Tororo, Namayingo, and Buikwe. Authorities in these areas were also told to closely monitor movement across the border. Kadaga emphasized that Ugandan citizens should not be involved in the electoral affairs of another sovereign state. The government has distanced itself from the allegations surrounding voter registration.
Kadaga, who is also the Minister for the East African Community (EAC), addressed the issue of dual citizenship. She stated that Ugandans cannot hold allegiance to both Uganda and Kenya under the existing EAC arrangements. This means that Ugandans who acquire Kenyan citizenship must relinquish their Ugandan citizenship and vice versa.
The statement by Kadaga was made on Wednesday, October 7, while addressing the media on the state of security in Uganda. She emphasized that Uganda respects Kenya's sovereignty and expects Nairobi to do the same for Uganda and its democratic processes. The Ugandan government is keen to maintain good relations with Kenya while ensuring that its own sovereignty is respected.
The KTN exposé that sparked this directive alleged that politicians and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) were registering Ugandan citizens as voters. The exposé was conducted in late September and revealed that Ugandan nationals were acquiring Kenyan identification documents and registering as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kadaga's directive has been seen as a move to prevent Ugandans from engaging in the electoral activities of another country. She instructed state agencies and local leaders in the affected districts to take a keen and coordinated interest in this matter. The Ugandan government is taking steps to ensure that its citizens do not engage in activities that could compromise the sovereignty of another nation.
The issue of voter registration has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Kenya. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has not commented on the allegations, but the Ugandan government's directive has been seen as a positive step towards maintaining the sovereignty of both nations.
Key points
- Uganda's government has ordered the arrest of citizens captured crossing into Kenya to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
- The Ugandan government has distanced itself from allegations that its nationals are registering as voters in Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election.
- Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has directed authorities in districts bordering Kenya to stop Ugandans from crossing the border for political or electoral activities.
