The council of the ‘Abavandimwe’ calls for unity among members

11 January 2025, 6:45 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The chairman and co-founder of the council of the Abavandimwe (a Rwandese community in Uganda), Mr. Frank Gashumba, has confirmed that they are on the verge of overcoming discrimination. This follows their petition to the Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Inspector General of Government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Uganda Communications Commission, the Speaker of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition, the Parliament of Uganda, and the President of Uganda.

Mr. Gashumba stated that the President has assured them that the issue will be addressed and a lasting solution provided once and for all.

According to the council, from the outset, it has been at the forefront of advocating for the citizenship rights of indigenous Banyarwanda, fighting against discrimination, segregation, and mistreatment at the National Identification Regulatory Authority. “In response to the outcry from our community, we have petitioned the Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, among others, and we believe that a solution will be provided once and for all,” Gashumba said.

Frank Gashumba further stated that the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinnah Nabbanja, informed the council that the President had tabled their concerns at the Cabinet of Ministers, which convenes every Monday. “We have reliable information that the President is in the final stages of signing an executive order to address our concerns,” he said.

It should be noted that many individuals born in Uganda but of Rwandese descent have faced numerous challenges in acquiring a Ugandan passport, national identification card, and other essential documents. Last year, they met President Museveni, who promised to resolve their issues and requested a two-month period to do so. “In the communities where we live, we still live like one family. We have not experienced discrimination or segregation in our communities, but this discrimination has always occurred at the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” Gashumba said.

The purpose of the council is to ensure that those born in Uganda but of Banyarwanda descent receive the rights to which they are entitled, just like other Ugandans. “When we went to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, she promised to help us and eventually referred us to the relevant parties. We do not want to hear the term ‘Nationalisation’ because it is not right. We are Ugandans and we want to be treated like other people living in Uganda,” he said.

President Yoweri Museveni told the group during their meeting that he was unaware of what was happening. “I urge all of you Banyarwanda here to stand up and fight for yourselves as one, because in the meeting the President advised us to work together. Recently, I received information that the President received our submissions, which we delivered to the Attorney General, Mr. Kiryowa Kiwanuka. The only gift we can give to the President is by voting for him in the upcoming general elections because he has done us good and deserves our support,” Gashumba noted.

Similarly, the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, who is also one of the co-founders of the council for Abavandimwe, Professor Lawrence Muganga, confirmed to the congregation that he, too, faces some challenges. “There are people who claim that the council for Abavandimwe is seeking publicity, which is not true. What I am asking from the President is to create a favourable working environment for all of us. We do not need anyone’s money, just to be recognised and treated as Ugandan citizens. What I am requesting you to do is to teach your children how to earn a living. Lastly, I want to ask those at Immigration to be mindful of Article 9 of the Constitution of Uganda, which states that any person who was a Ugandan citizen on 8th October 1962 should remain a Ugandan citizen. Why should they place more emphasis on Article 10?” Muganga ask