Museveni issues Executive Order to Protect citizenship Rights of Banyarwanda in Uganda

In a landmark decision aimed at addressing long-standing injustices, President Yoweri Museveni has issued an Executive Order ensuring the full recognition of the Banyarwanda community as Ugandan citizens.

The directive, announced on January 21, 2025, at State House in Entebbe, seeks to end the systemic discrimination that members of this minority group have faced for decades.

The Executive Order specifically targets practices by certain “reactionary and malicious elements” within the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Immigration Department, according to Frank Gashumba.

These practices had unjustly questioned the citizenship of individuals of Banyarwanda descent, denying them access to critical identification documents such as passports and national IDs.

“This injustice has persisted for far too long, and it is time to put an end to it,” Gashumba added.

The Banyarwanda community in Uganda has historically faced challenges regarding their citizenship status, often being subjected to discriminatory treatment when applying for national identification.

These obstacles have not only infringed upon their rights but also limited their access to essential services and opportunities that require valid identification.

The Council for Abavandimwe, a prominent advocacy group representing the interests of the Banyarwanda, has been at the forefront of efforts to combat these injustices.

Since its inception, the Council, led by Frank M. Gashumba, has engaged various government institutions, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the Human Rights Commission, and the Equal Opportunities Commission. Their relentless advocacy culminated in this historic Executive Order, which represents a significant victory for the community.

The new directive guarantees that members of the Banyarwanda community can now freely acquire passports and national IDs without their citizenship being questioned.

This move restores their dignity and eliminates the bureaucratic hurdles that had long marginalized them.

Frank Gashumba has praised the President’s intervention, emphasizing its importance in ending the systemic discrimination. “This is a monumental day for the Banyarwanda community,” Gashumba noted.

“We are finally seeing justice after years of struggle. The Executive Order ensures that our people can now enjoy their full rights as Ugandan citizens.”

The President’s decision has been widely lauded as a step toward inclusivity and justice in Uganda.

It sends a strong message about the government’s commitment to protecting minority rights and addressing institutionalized discrimination.

The move also underscores the importance of advocacy and engagement in bringing about meaningful change.

The announcement comes just days after the Council for Abavandimwe addressed the public at Speke Hotel in Kampala, aiming to highlight the injustices faced by the community.