West Africa’s Borderless Women: Inside the Yoruba Sisterhood Linking Nigeria
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Friday June 13, 2025
By Zam Nakityo
The concept of free movement of people within Africa, promoted by the African Union (AU), aims to facilitate the unrestricted movement of people and goods across borders, fostering regional integration, trade, and economic growth. Uganda’s long-standing support for regional integration, including its backing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), has made it one of the more open countries in the region, encouraging trade, movement, and new beginnings.
AU Agenda 2063 seeks to allow visa–free entry for African citizens, promote continental integration, and ease the movement of people across Africa for trade, tourism, and work
The East African Community (EAC) free movement protocol was established to promote regional integration and co-operation for economic, political, social, and cultural development.
Globally, women migrants have remained a significant demographic, making up 48.1% of migrants in 2020, compared to 49.4% in 2000. According to UNHCR data, approximately 51% of Uganda’s migrant population is women, meaning about 870,000 women migrants reside in the country, with women and children comprising 79% of the total migrating population.
The UN has outlined conventions and recommendations to safeguard the rights of women migrants, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), often referred to as the “Bill of Rights for Women,” which provides a framework for developing gender-responsive migration policies. General Recommendation 26 on Women Migrant Workers, an extension of CEDAW, offers specific guidance on gender-sensitive migration policies.
https://www.datawrapper.de/_/DZtRH(Link shows a map of East African states who are implementing the free movement protocol)
Across Africa, women are moving across countries, across borders, and across personal boundaries, rewriting stories of strength, skill, and social change. Uganda, known for its progressive stance on regional integration and open-door policies under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the AU’s Free Movement Protocol, has become a fertile ground where many migrant women are sowing seeds of hope.
Migrant women in Uganda are rewriting their stories of perseverance, fortitude, and victory far from the places they previously called home
Francine Ziruka Mwozi, affectionately known as Mama Francine, is a Congolese mother of seven who resides in the centre of Kitebi, Wakiso District. She greets guests with a pleasant grin, surrounded by people of all various kinds, wearing a kitengi blouse and skirt, and wearing a kitengi headband on a cold Wednesday morning.
She has devoted her life to using entrepreneurship and health advocacy to improve the lives of migratory women since arriving in Uganda in August 2011.
“There was no other country between Congo and Uganda, so crossing the border wasn’t complicated,” she says. “We arrived here by bus. We only needed to prove that we were Congolese. After being designated the chancellor of Health in All Refugee Nationality Communities in Africa, Mwozi, a social worker and community administrator back home, still works as an HIV counselor today. She performs her duties without interruption and with pride. She smiles and adds, “I’m still a social worker, and my journey didn’t stop at the border.’
The goal of the January 2018 adoption of the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons (2018) is to make it easier for the rights of establishment, the right of residency, and the right of free movement of people to be gradually implemented throughout Africa.
Photo of Francine Ziruka Mwozi
Touch and Smile Development, a licensed community-based organization founded by Mwozi, offers health services like HIV counseling, training for hairdressers, tailoring, soap making, and child nutrition programs.
“What pushed me to start Touch and Smile Development was a personal experience,” She says. Shortly after our arrival in Uganda, my son became ill. At the time, I could only communicate in French and Swahili, so I hurried him to the hospital. I was incomprehensible, and getting medical attention became difficult. I came up with the notion to launch a business that aids people in similar circumstances.
Since its inception, the group has provided emotional support and counseling to women at hospitals such as Kiruddu, Mulago, and Bbosa Clinic. Through entrepreneurship, Mwozi enables Ugandan and migrant women to start again.
On specific market days, we sell the liquid soap that we train women to make. The money raised is reinvested in the organization to help us provide food and other necessities to members who are in need, “she says.
The organization collaborates closely with hospitals and village health teams to extend services to underserved communities.
“When we organize health camps, we write to hospitals asking for doctors to volunteer. That way, people can obtain medical treatment without the exorbitant costs, Mwozi adds.
Photo of Francine Ziruka Mwozi during her counseling sessions at the Touch and Smile Development premises.
Beyond providing basic services, she promotes economic empowerment and inclusive development. “If you’re a migrant with the right qualifications and documentation, you can get good-quality jobs, “she continues. I’ve used the second chance that Uganda gave me to help others.” As a leader, that’s what matters most, and Mwozi has always valued international cooperation.
She describes how she was able to travel, participate in regional leadership forums and collaborate with other female leaders throughout Africa because of the East Africa Common Market protocol 2010 that Grants citizens of EAC partner states the right to move freely, seek employment, and reside in any other partner state Recognizes the right of establishment, allowing women to start businesses or professional practices.
Thanks to the EAC’s commitment to free movement and educational access, young women like Sabrin Rizgala are not just crossing borders; they are crossing into leadership, turning migration into a journey of purpose and possibility
A South Sudanese student at Victoria University in Kampala, Sabrin Rizgala, has transformed her experience of migration into a path of leadership, education, and hope.
In February 2014, Sabrin and her family moved to Uganda from Rokon in Juba.
Because of continental frameworks that enable students to study throughout Africa, Sabrin’s educational path demonstrates how policies would allow students to access the best learning opportunities without being constrained by boundaries.
“We migrated in search of quality education,” she continues, “my father wanted us to have access to better education, which we have finally got here,” she said.
Sabrin tells the story of how they took a bus to Uganda, arriving in Kampala, the country’s capital. She says they were assisted in the process of moving by a previous tenant in South Sudan who had a son in Kampala. Sabrin, who is currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Journalism, feels that her experience as a migrant has benefited her.
Since the university accepted her and has always welcomed international students regardless of their status, she maintains that being a migrant did not exclude her. “I have never encountered any discrimination”, Sabrin continues. Having been voted President of Victoria University’s South Sudanese students’ Association, Sabrin is not just a student but also a leader. She claims that this job has made her feel at home by providing her with a platform to use her rights as a human being rather than as a migrant.
She wants to use her expertise in journalism to spotlight the experiences of migrants like herself and to serve as a voice that unites people from different backgrounds. “I want to use my career to tell stories that matter and help people understand each other.” Additionally, Sabrin supports free mobility across African nations, calling on leaders to facilitate cross-border travel and settlement for Africans.
Women like Sabrin may contribute to Africa’s academic landscape, attend institutions abroad, and obtain scholarships thanks to the African Union’s Educational Mobility Program. The EAC gender policy(2018) that ensures free movement are accessible and equitable for women and girls, enabling them not just to move but to lead and prosper regardless of their nation of origin, policies such as these facilitate women’s pursuit of academic success and allow them to form networks that will ultimately benefit the continent.
A Photo Of Sabrin Rizigala In The University Studio
Under the East Africa community common market protocol, the right to move, work, and establish oneself across borders is not just a legal provision; it’s a lifeline for women like Sumaya Awil Mohamed who are building new futures far from home.
Sumaya Awil Mohamed, who immigrated to Uganda from Kismayo, Somalia, tells her transformation journey while sitting in an office with a bookcase in the background, wearing a lovely grin and wearing a muslim black hijab. “I had already stopped attending school when we arrived in Uganda. However, I had the good fortune to complete my schooling after we moved here. My life was transformed by that opportunity, and I am still very thankful for it.
Photo of Sumaya Awil Mohamed
Sumaya is a teacher now; she works as a humanitarian with People for Peace and Defense of Rights (PPDR) and teaches English. She also promotes the organization on social media, utilizing online channels to elevate the voices of underrepresented groups. Sumaya is hoping for more graduates in 2025, although as a teacher, she has had the privilege of witnessing many of her students graduate, some in 2023 and others in 2024. Knowing that she contributed to their path makes her proud to see them achieve.
“Home is now Uganda. You can create a business, live a tranquil life, and follow your ambitions in this free country. For folks like me, the only restriction is that we are unable to take part in Ugandan politics. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the freedom and the tranquility this nation has provided for my family and me.
Sumaya Awil Mohamed is in the middle with some of her students during the graduation ceremony.
The Maputo Protocol’s support of women’s economic involvement and freedom of movement is directly consistent with their right to seek education and employment in a peaceful nation. The vision outlined in these frameworks for empowered migrant women contributing to society is embodied in her works as a humanitarian advocate and teacher.
In a region where the East African community envisions equal access to opportunities across member states, Rolene Byamana is turning this vision into reality. She is a professional tailor, proof that cross-border cooperation isn’t just policy, it’s personal.
At 29 years old, Rolene Byamana is a married mother of six and the proud owner of Smartness Vibe, a growing tailoring business nestled in Nsambya Kirombe, Makindye Division.
Dressed in black jeans and a sleeveless blouse, a tape measure casually draped around her neck, Rolene sits at her sewing machine with a warm smile as she chats with customers and threads fabric with practiced ease.
She began tailoring shortly after arriving in Uganda in 2015, initially working from home. As demand for her work grew, so did her ambitions, prompting her to move the business to a more visible and accessible location.
Rolene sources her vibrant kitenge fabrics directly from Congo, her homeland, using mobile money transactions. The materials are then sent by bus to Kampala, seamlessly linking her roots to her present.
She credits the benefits of free movement within Africa for allowing her to source fabrics from other countries, such as Nigeria and Ghana, which have added variety and value to her work.
Despite linguistic obstacles or the lack of local acceptance of their professional qualifications, the Maputo protocol ensures women like Rolene the right to economic independence. Her freedom of movement has allowed her to improve her abilities and gain self–empowerment.
Photo of Rolene Byamana, a migrant tailor woman, on her sewing machine
Determined to thrive in her new environment, Rolene also learned Luganda, the widely spoken language in central Uganda, a skill that has helped her connect more deeply with her customers and build a loyal client base.
With agreements like the AfCFTA aiming to ease cross-border movement, the EAC common market protocol 2010 that opens doors for women entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders to thrive across borders, women have found new homes and careers, proving that when movement is enabled, talent and ambition know no borders.
Rolene’s story illustrates the importance of freedom of movement under the AU’s Free Movement Protocol, which allows her the ability to travel and work.
With each step she takes in a new land, Glorieus Asigiwe carries not just hope but the bold ambition to lead, work, and thrive beyond borders.
Glorieus Asigiwe, a married mother of two, walks through the streets of Kampala with her business neatly packed in a case, a mobile shop filled with earrings, necklaces, perfumes, and watches.
Originally from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Glorious has lived in Uganda for the past two years. She sells her jewelry through hawking, sourcing items from Gaza Land and Kikuubo, two of Kampala’s busiest trading hubs.
Though she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development, Glorious chose entrepreneurship to support her family. Her business has allowed her to save, send her children to school, and contribute to household expenses alongside her husband.
She reaches additional customers by posting her products on her WhatsApp status, using social media to boost her visibility and grow her client base.
Photos Of Glorieus Asigiwe Showcasing Her Mobile Jewelry Shop
Her journey as a migrant entrepreneur reflects the growing reality of regional integration. With DRC’s recent admission into the East African Community (EAC), Glorieus sees hope in the EAC Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, which supports easier migration, employment, and business opportunities across borders.
She believes that such regional efforts will make it even easier for women like her to move freely, expand their businesses into new markets, and turn small ventures into sustainable enterprises.
These women, who have all had different paths, are leaders, caregivers, builders, and change agents in addition to being migrants.
Their experiences demonstrate that women not only survive but also improve the areas in which they settle when they are allowed the freedom to travel, access resources, and be heard. The future of a more connected and inclusive Africa is shaped by its tenacity and bravery, which speak louder.
For women crossing borders with dreams in their hearts and strength in their stride, the future is no longer a distant promise; it’s a path they are boldly shaping, step by step, into leadership, opportunity, and lasting change.
Numerous laws have been implemented to facilitate the movement of both men and women, according to Kevin Githuku, the founder of African Migrant Narratives. “Yes, Women are allowed to move freely like anyone else, but they still face many challenges, “he says.
Women move across nations on buses and airplanes. Githuku claims to have relocated with women from all over the world. People relocate for a variety of reasons, such as education, empowerment, or being impacted by climate change, refugees, or asylum seekers.
But not every nation accepts female migrants in the same way. In certain regions, women find it difficult to travel or live freely due to cultural norms or stringent regulations like Sharia.
Githuku continues, “Some African nations are attempting to enact laws and policies that support women’s freedom of movement within the continent.’
He envisions a time when women will be able to operate enterprises throughout Africa without being constrained by needless regulations. In areas like downtown Kampala, he says, “I want to see migrant women doing business, buying and selling goods across borders without limits.”
Githuku thinks that although African women are resilient and prepared to travel, more work has to be done to ensure their safety. “Where there is peace, women go.” According to him, nations must put a lot of effort into ensuring the laws they enact genuinely benefit women.
Voice of Refugee Media (VORM) founder Levis Chidolo has advocated for immediate policy changes to help vulnerable migrant groups, especially women. “Migrant women should be given serious consideration, he stated.
He says that border screenings should prioritize the safety and dignity of all migrants by ensuring female officers are present. Furthermore, the Free Movement of Africans framework should proactively include measures that support vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women, particularly ensuring their access to high-quality healthcare.
We need to set up well-equipped health facilities that serve these populations if we want this vision to succeed, “he said. “Basic services shouldn’t be denied to migrants just because they have crossed a border.”
Chindolo’s remarks coincide with efforts around the continent to increase the Free Africa Movement’s accessibility and inclusivity.
Across Africa, migrant women are emerging as powerful agents of change, overcoming the challenges of displacement and discrimination to build new lives rooted in resilience, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Their journeys are a testament to the strength and potential that lies within every woman when given the right opportunities.
Regional frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the East African Community Common Market Protocol, and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol have opened doors for greater mobility, allowing women to cross borders in search of education, safety, and economic opportunity. These policies are not just tools for integration; they are essential for unlocking the potential of women and driving inclusive development across the continent.
As Africa moves toward greater unity, it must ensure that the right to free movement is accessible, safe, and empowering for all women. When women can move freely and thrive, they not only transform their own lives but also help build stronger, more prosperous communities.
DISCLAIMER:
This content is produced as part of the Move Africa Project, commissioned by the African Union Commission and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIZ or the African Union
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