Come Jan 2014, Rwandans will be free to cross the border for the first time using their indangamuntu, which means that a sick Rwandan who wants to travel to Mulago Hospital in Uganda for medical treatment does not have to go through the long process of acquiring a travel document or passport.

Francois, a domestic worker has heard about availability of casual jobs in Uganda but has never ventured into the neighbouring country because he cannot afford a passport or a temporary travel document, the laissez-passer.

Claudine is a regular traveler who crosses the Uganda/Rwanda border at least three times each month. An importer of second-hand clothes from Kampala, she must renew her laissez-passer every year at a cost of Rwf10,000.

Come January 2014, Francois will be free to cross the border for the first time using his indangamuntu, while Claudine will no longer need to spend Rwf10,000 to renew her travel document that is due to expire on February 20, 2014.

This new development comes after the presidents of Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya recently agreed to partially implement sections of the treaty establishing the East African Community, particularly the article that guarantees free movement of citizens of member states within the region. This arrangement, however, does not involve the other two EAC partner-states, Tanzania and Burundi. Rwanda is fast tracking the process.

According to Chapter 17, article 104 of the treaty that established the East African Community, member states agreed to "adopt measures to achieve free movement of persons, labour and services and to ensure the enjoyment of the right of establishment and residence of their citizens within the Community.”

However, just like several other articles and protocols of the EAC, this one, too, has remained work-in-progress since the revival of the Community more than a decade ago.

Early this month, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, however, decided to move a step ahead in a kind of tri-lateral arrangement to operationalise this section of the treaty, apparently with the aim of boosting trade and commerce on the Northern Corridor route that runs from the Port of Mombasa to Rwanda through Uganda.

Invoking section 3, (a) and (b) of article 104, the heads of state of the three countries moved to eliminate restrictions on the movement of people by  agreeing to the use of national identity cards for purposes of crossing borders.

"The Partner States shall as may be determined by the Council: (a) ease border crossing by citizens of the Partner States;  (b) maintain common standard travel documents for their citizens; (c) effect reciprocal opening of border posts and keep the posts opened and manned for twenty four hour,” the treaty states.

While the border posts have operated on a 24-hour basis over the past couple of years, East Africans have had to use either passports or temporary travel documents issued by respective countries to cross from one country to another.

This has not only been costly for some people, but has also been a setback to those engaged in small/informal trade, to students in search of education as well as the sick looking for specialised medical services outside their countries but within the region.

Part of the problem has been deferent levels of preparedness by member states, whereby a member of the Community, Uganda, has never issued national identity cards.

That means that even if national identity cards were to be accepted as travel documents within the region, Ugandans would still be left out. The country has however started issuing national IDs and authorities say every adult Ugandan will have their card by the end of the year.

Benefits

So, how will Rwandans, Ugandans and Kenyans benefit from the use of national IDs to cross border?

Annex I of the East African Common Market on free movement of persons, sets the regulations under which these freedoms shall be enjoyed by the citizens of the member countries travelling to another country as visitors, medical treatment, education, transit and other "lawful purpose.” This, however, excludes people entering another country for work or self employment. 

That means that a sick Rwandan who wants to travel to Mulago Hospital in Uganda for medical treatment does not have to go through the long process of acquiring a travel document or a passport.

According to regulation 5 of the annex, a citizen of East Africa is entitled to enter any member state at designated entry points upon presentation of a valid common standard travel document or a national identity card.

This permission is however limited to a period of six months, but a visitor can apply for an extension that may be granted by immigration if the applicant has a "justification”.

This means that while you may cross the border using your indangamuntu, it does not guarantee permanent residence or open opportunities for employment. 

The immigration office shall renew the pass where the applicant provides justification for a longer period of stay. 

Students are entitled to a one-year pass renewable annually for the duration of the course.