ROBERT ATUHAIRWE: THINKING SMALL: Africa’s old ghosts roam around as anti-immigration and economic purges flare up

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion essay by Robert Atuhairwe arguing that recent moves in parts of Africa to restrict foreign small-scale traders reflect a recurring strain of anti-immigration and economic exclusion. The piece links violent expulsions and attacks on African migrants in South Africa with Kenya’s decision to limit foreigners from operating certain small businesses, including hawking and small shops, a policy Atuhairwe says was directed by President William Ruto.

The article says the Kenyan measures appeared to affect Burundians first and warns that such enforcement could spread across the region if governments and vigilantes copy one another. It frames the debate as part of a wider tension between protecting local livelihoods and maintaining the East African Community’s goal of freer movement of people, services and trade. Atuhairwe also notes that the East African Business Council has urged protection for legitimate cross-border service providers and cautioned against barriers that could harm regional commerce.

The essay argues that heavy-handed expulsions damage African integration and could trigger retaliation against citizens of other countries. It contrasts regulation and formalisation of business with violent purges, which it calls unAfrican, and invokes Uganda’s 1972 expulsion of Asians under Idi Amin as a cautionary example of long-term economic harm. The broader point is that protectionist crackdowns may undermine regional cooperation and cross-border investment at a time when East African integration is still incomplete.