The East African Community (EAC) has convened its first-ever Public-Private Dialogue on the Mobility of Businesspersons a landmark engagement aimed at dismantling barriers that continue to limit cross-border movement of professionals and entrepreneurs within the region.
The two-day meeting, held on Kampala from September 11–12, 2025, brought together immigration authorities, trade ministries, labour organizations, regulators, and private-sector players from all partner states. It was organized with support from the EU-EAC CORE Programme, which is providing technical and financial backing to strengthen the bloc’s Common Market Protocol.
Speaking at the opening, EAC Deputy Secretary General Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba described the dialogue as a “pivotal moment” for unlocking East Africa’s economic potential. She noted that while the Protocol guarantees free movement of persons and services, only a fraction of skilled workers currently moves or practice across borders, with annual cross-border professional mobility still below 0.01% of the region’s workforce.
Participants highlighted persistent challenges, including inconsistent recognition of professional qualifications, complex immigration requirements, and weak enforcement of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) in fields such as engineering, accountancy, and architecture. Private-sector representatives also pointed to limited awareness of existing frameworks, which leaves many businesspersons unaware of the rights and opportunities available to them.
The dialogue generated practical recommendations to address these gaps. Among the proposals were harmonizing regulatory practices, strengthening MRAs, simplifying work permit systems, and creating awareness campaigns to help businesses take full advantage of the EAC Common Market.
Officials emphasized that a more seamless system of mobility would spur innovation, boost service delivery, and open new opportunities for investment and job creation across the region.
The event closed with commitments from both public and private actors to advance reforms and establish a clear roadmap for implementation. Organizers hailed the discussions as a breakthrough in aligning regional policy with the realities faced by businesses on the ground.