Immigration policy dialogue with Kampala City Traders Association.

The Kampala City Traders' Association has urged Government to take a stern position against Immigrants who purport to enter the Country as investors and yet end up doing petty business. These comments were made by the Chairman KACITA Everest Kayondo during a dialogue with senior management the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration control held on 25th May 2012 at Hotel Africana Kampala.

The Kampala business community also urged Government to adopt the principle of reciprocity on visa issuance, protect local jobs for indigenous nationals, raise the threshold of foreign capital investment from USD 100,000 to USD 500,000, establish a liaison office to facilitate foreigners settling in Uganda, urge land lords to assist in verification of Immigration status of intending tenants, work with Kampala Capital City Authority in licensing of foreign investors, streamline the renewal of work permits through verification of engagements by applicants and finally establish an Immigrant tracking system.

On their part, Senior officials of the Directorate urged the local business community to work in harmony with foreign investors in order to reap from the globalization of trade.

The Commissioner for Immigration Control Mr. Anthony Namara assured the local business community that their concerns would be discussed further with the political leadership at the ministry but further warned the community against engaging in xenophobia against Immigrants in Uganda which would be counter productive in terms of Uganda's engagements on the global market.

He emphasized that Immigration concerns raised in the meeting were not unique to Uganda alone but were shared equally in the region and at international level. Dialogue would yield participation in providing solution.

The Commissioner urged the local business community to be part of the directorate's informer network for reducing and eliminating Immigration crime.
The national Immigration policy is expected to be in place before close of financial year 2012-2013.