Gashumba: Museveni’s Executive Order Will Ensure Equal Rights for Banyarwanda

By Gad Masereka

In a landmark gathering at Speke Hotel in Kampala on January 11, 2025, Frank Gashumba, the chairman of the Council for Abavandimwe, shared a hopeful announcement from President Yoweri Museveni to the Banyarwanda community. Gashumba revealed that the President had instructed key government bodies, including the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to put an end to discriminatory practices that have hindered Ugandan-born Banyarwanda from acquiring identification documents.

Addressing the assembled community members, Gashumba emphasized the significance of this intervention, which he described as a direct response to years of unjust treatment. “Reliable sources tell us that President Museveni is on the verge of signing an executive order to address our longstanding grievances,” Gashumba stated, expressing confidence that the move would bring an end to the systemic bias faced by the Bavandimwe.

The chairman further shared the Council’s plans to push for comprehensive legislation aimed at ensuring the protection of the rights and freedoms of the Banyarwanda people. He encouraged the community to show their appreciation for the President’s support by rallying behind him in the upcoming 2026 elections, asserting that President Museveni had consistently demonstrated his solidarity with their cause.

In a bold statement, Gashumba also questioned the accuracy of the population figures provided by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), which estimated the Banyarwanda community at 600,000. Gashumba suggested that the true number is closer to 11 million, calling attention to what he described as a significant undercount.

Dr. Lawrence Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University and an influential member of the Council, also spoke at the event, thanking President Museveni for his unwavering support. “We are grateful for the President’s timely intervention, especially during times when we have faced many obstacles,” Dr. Muganga said. He echoed Gashumba’s call for support in the 2026 elections, stating, “Support begets support.”

Dr. Muganga shared his personal struggles with identification issues, recalling the difficulties his family had faced in securing passports and national IDs. He revealed that his mother’s urgent need for medical treatment abroad had been delayed due to her lack of proper documentation. “For us, being denied these vital documents means being denied the ability to work, own property, marry, or even seek medical treatment,” he said.

Attendees at the meeting shared similar stories of hardship, including denied applications for passports and national IDs, and cases of documents being unjustly confiscated. The community expressed their determination to continue pushing for equal treatment and full recognition as Ugandan citizens.

The Council for Abavandimwe has been actively engaging with various government institutions, including the Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the Ugandan Parliament, seeking justice for the Banyarwanda people. With the President’s recent directive, they now view this as a crucial step forward in their fight for equality.