Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania, 21 May 2024 - Immigration and Border officials from Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda are meeting in Mwanza today to discuss strengthening cooperation in countering transnational organized crime on Lake Victoria.

This is the third meeting of the “Regional Working Group” (RWG), organized under the auspices of the project titled Countering Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) on Lake Victoria by Enhancing Border Security Capacities and Coordination between Government Authorities in Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda funded by the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States of America and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and government authorities in the three countries.

The project’s key areas of intervention include improving regional coordination of measures against TOC; capacity building of border agencies; improving work environment and border management infrastructure; as well improving engagement between border agencies and maritime communities in the Lake Victoria region.

This meeting brings together government representatives from Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda along with IOM project staff from the three countries.

During the meeting, delegations from the three countries will provide updates on their respective national initiatives and joint cross-border efforts to prevent and respond to TOC around Lake Victoria. 

Presentations and discussions will focus on maritime security, drug trafficking trends, the empowerment of local NGOs and the role of regional economic communities in enhancing security cooperation. Participants will agree on regional recommendations and priorities for the RWG's work in the coming year. In hosting this meeting, the United Republic of Tanzania, formally takes over from Uganda as chair of the RWG. 

“We are about halfway through the IOM project and all three governments have made commendable strides when it comes to cross-border cooperation and capacity-building on countering TOC. We anticipate this meeting will highlight these results and guide the way forward. In this regard, the 3rd RWG in Mwanza will be pivotal” stated Shehryar Ghazi, IOM Programme Coordinator. 

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For more information, please contact David Hofmeijer (dhofmeijer@iom.int) at IOM Tanzania; Eva Sibanda at IOM Kenya (esibanda@iom.int) and Richard M. Kavuma (rmkavuma@iom.int) at IOM Uganda.