Kampala pushes for new migration agenda

KAMPALA - In a region long defined by the risks and realities of labour migration, Uganda is now trying to change the narrative.

At a high-level forum in Kampala this March, migration was no longer framed as a problem to contain, but as a system to design, an economic tool that, if managed well, could reshape livelihoods across East Africa.

The shift was laid out during the 7th Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration, with Uganda using its chairmanship to push a more structured, forward-looking agenda.

In a statement issued through the Uganda Media Centre, officials described the moment as a turning point, emphasising a move “from reactive migration management to a proactive, systems-driven labour mobility strategy.”

That shift reflects the scale of the issue. Across East and the Horn of Africa, about 6.2 million people are living and working outside their home countries, nearly a quarter of Africa’s migrant population.

For Uganda, where migration is closely tied to employment and household income, the implications are immediate.

“Migration is no longer peripheral; it is structural,” the forum report notes, capturing a reality that is increasingly shaping economic policy across the region.

What is changing is how governments respond.

For years, migration policy leaned heavily on enforcement—tightening controls, responding to crises, and trying to limit irregular movement. In Kampala, the tone was markedly different. The focus has shifted to expanding safe, legal pathways for labour migration, while strengthening systems that can support workers before, during, and after they leave.

Uganda’s leadership has been central to that transition. Over the past two years, it has helped reshape the forum itself, introducing a more structured governance model that brings together political leaders, technical experts, and advisory bodies.

Member states have also agreed to fund the platform directly; a move aimed at reducing reliance on external donors and strengthening regional ownership.

There is also a growing emphasis on collective bargaining.

For the first time, key Gulf destinations, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan, have been drawn into the dialogue. The goal is to move away from fragmented, bilateral negotiations and toward a more unified regional approach.

By speaking with one voice, countries hope to secure better conditions for their workers—improving wages, recruitment transparency, and protections on the ground.

“We must evolve from fragmented approaches to coordinated regional engagement,” the report suggests, pointing to a future where migration diplomacy is no longer handled country by country.

For Uganda, this matters deeply. Thousands of Ugandans leave each year to work abroad, particularly in the Gulf. Their earnings support families back home, but their journeys are often marked by uncertainty and risk.

That is why the forum placed strong emphasis on worker protection. Discussions went beyond policy statements, focusing on practical measures such as ethical recruitment standards, stronger grievance systems, and better pre-departure training.

Crucially, there was also a push to ensure protections apply “regardless of legal status”—a notable shift toward a more rights-based approach.

At the same time, policymakers are beginning to rethink the kind of labour migration the region promotes.

There is growing recognition that the future lies not just in exporting labour, but in exporting skills. Migration strategies are increasingly being linked to digital training, technical education, and emerging sectors such as green jobs.

For Uganda, with one of the youngest populations in the world, the message is clear: without investment in skills, migration risks reinforcing vulnerability rather than creating opportunity.

The conversation is also expanding beyond governments. Private recruiters, diaspora networks, and civil society groups are being drawn into what officials describe as a broader migration “ecosystem.” There is also a sharper focus on gender, acknowledging the heightened risks faced by women migrant workers.

Back home, attention is turning to what happens when migrants return.

For years, return migration has been poorly managed, often leaving returnees to navigate reintegration on their own. Now, there is a shift toward seeing returnees as an economic asset—people who bring back skills, experience, and capital that can be reinvested locally.

All of these points to a deeper transformation. Migration in East Africa is no longer being treated as a temporary challenge. It is becoming part of long-term economic planning—linked to jobs, skills, and regional cooperation.

Uganda’s role in convening and shaping this agenda has positioned it as a key player in that transition. However, as leadership of the forum passes to Tanzania, the real test will be whether these commitments translate into action.

For now, though, the direction is clear. Migration, once seen mainly as a problem to manage, is being redefined as a system to build—and Uganda is helping lead that shift.