Uganda cautions citizens against taking part in Kenya’s 2027 elections

Uganda has issued a warning to its citizens residing along the Kenya-Uganda border, discouraging participation in political activities, including voter registration, in Kenya prior to the 2027 General Election. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga emphasized that such actions contravene Uganda's laws and sovereignty.

In a security briefing on October 7, 2026, Kadaga stressed the need for respect for Kenya's sovereignty and echoed a similar expectation from Kenya. Uganda's security agencies and local leaders in border districts, such as Moroto, Amudat, Namisindwa, Busia, Namayingo, and Tororo, have been tasked with preventing Ugandan citizens from crossing into Kenya for political and electoral purposes.

Dual citizenship was also addressed, with Kadaga clarifying that one cannot simultaneously be a Kenyan and Ugandan. Authorities have identified Bukwo, Moroto, Namayingo, and Busia as areas susceptible to facilitating movement into Kenya for electoral activities. This directive follows Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Kenya Kwanza leaders, including High Commissioner Ababu Namwamba, crossing into Uganda's Bukwo district to engage Kenyans living across the border.

Murkomen assured border residents of their right to obtain Kenyan identity documents, removing the earlier stringent vetting process.

Concerns in Kenya center around potential registration of foreign nationals, specifically Ugandan and Somali citizens, to influence the 2027 election. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that no Ugandan or Somali national will be allowed to impact the election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) discredited these claims, citing the absence of credible evidence.

Busia County Commissioner Stephen Orinde clarified that Ugandan nationals married to Kenyan citizens can obtain Kenyan identity documents via established legal procedures.

The issue extends to northern Kenya, with questions raised about the removal of historical vetting requirements for national identity cards and its potential impact on voter registration. Uganda's directive highlights the ongoing cross-border political activities in communities with significant familial, social, and economic ties. Both nations share a long border, with movement among residents occurring for various reasons, including trade, work, and family-related activities.