Tiger FM

UMUBANO rejects ‘Bavandimwe’ identity, seeks citizenship law reform

29 October 2024, 5:59 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Uganda Banyarwanda Development Cultural Association (UMUBANO) have rejected the identity of Bavandimwe that is being mooted by Mr. Gashumba Frank and state agents.

They raised their concerns and way forward during the press briefing with journalists earlier today. at Speak Hotel in Kampala. Mr. Simon Kaiyitana, the chairman UMUBANO task force and representative of Banyarwanda in Buganda Lukiiko and others are committed to take the next step. “We are Banyarwanda not Bavandimwe. We shall never change our identity, and we petition President Yoweri Museveni to listen to our concerns as Banyarwanda.” he said.

According to the UMUBANO task force they are scheduling meetings with leadership of all kingdoms and cultural institutions in Uganda beginning with Buganda kingdom, Tooro kingdom, Bunyoro kingdom, Busoga kingdom, Rwenzururu kingdom, Rwoth Cultural Institution to solicit their views and support for our proposal law which states that the Banyarwanda and other roving communities, citizenship, identification and management bill 2024 that will facilitate the right to citizenship, identification, certification, management and protection of the identity of the Banyarwanda. “We shall also meet European Union representative in Uganda, the British and United Nations and United States Ambassadors, and the donor community over the same matter.” Simon said.

The general public is informed that UMUBANO countrywide consultations are on going until December 01, 2024 when they shall hold a major public hearing at Kokolo independence grounds. ” By then we shall have engaged all Banyarwanda in Buganda, Western Uganda, Eastern and Northern Uganda. By these present, the Uganda government and president Museveni is put to notice that over six million kinyarwanda-speaking people in Uganda are now stateless because of the wrongful constitutional provision.” he confirmed. They want article 10 of 1995 constitution of the Republic of Uganda to be amended. They are supported by their legal advisor, Hon. Fred Mukasa Mbidde, former East African Legislative Assembly Representative.

It should be remembered that a week ago, President Yoweri Museveni had a meeting with other group who calls themselves Bavandimwe at State House in Entebbe, which was led by Mr. Gashumba Frank. “It was historic in the Banyarwanda struggle against denial of citizenship rights by some elements at immigration/ NIRA. It was the beginning of the end of impunity, malice and abuse that the long suffering Banyarwanda have endured at the hands of some chauvinists.” Frank Gashumba said after meeting with the president.

The Vice Chancellor of Victoria University who also doubles as one of the members of Bavandimwe group, Professor Lawrence Muganga, thanked president Museveni for giving them audience. “On behalf of the Ugandans of the tribe, I extend our deepest gratitude for your resolute commitment to addressing the discriminating challenges we have faced. Your decision to ensure that Banyarwanda Ugandans are granted National IDs and support without prejudice is a monumental step towards unity and equality in our beloved Country.” professor Muganga said.

Hon. Mukasa Mbidde says that there’s a need to introduce freedom of access to citizenship rights through proper management, certification, identification, recognition and equal opportunities for both roving and borderline ethnic groups. He also confirms that the process has been reduced into a fully-fledged memorandum that shall be handed over to government of Uganda for ultimate consideration.

The UMUBANO group with their legal advisor Hon. Mukasa Mbidde (Centre)
President Museveni (White shirt, centre) with some of the people from Bavandimwe group. Mr. Gashumba Frank is 5th from left.