Stop discrimination against Banyarwanda, says Frank Gashumba

You have been among the most vocal in fighting for the cause of the Banyarwanda in Uganda. What exactly is their plight?

The framers of the [1995] Constitution made it very clear that to be a Ugandan, you must belong to the indigenous communities—Baganda, Basoga, Iteso, name them. And the Banyarwanda are number 24 in Article 10 of the Constitution of Uganda. Now the problem comes here: the Internal Affairs Ministry and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) had successfully created them as stateless Ugandans.

Day in, and day out, they are being denied National Identity Cards (IDs) just because of their appearance and name. They are told that they do not belong here [in Uganda] and therefore should return to Rwanda to pick up their documents, a place where they have never even been.

To tackle these issues, we formed a council of Abavandimwe to promote and protect the rights of Banyarwanda born and living in Uganda. But just to let you know, I got involved in this fight after getting tired of people coming and crying in my office to help resolve their issues.

Do you sometimes feel the Banyarwanda issue is politicised?

Having a tribe called the Banyarwanda in the Constitution of Uganda was an amazing job, but it confuses because the moment you say you are a Munyarwanda, the mind automatically shifts to a country called Rwanda. That is why we had come up with the idea of Abavandimwe, who are Banyarwanda born and raised in Uganda with no attachment to a country called Rwanda. The idea was welcomed by 66 percent of Banyarwanda born in Uganda but also resisted by a section of people who believe that these people still have an attachment to a country called Rwanda.

What are the missed opportunities Banyarwanda are facing because of this predicament?

It is not even lack [of opportunities]; rather, we believe it is hate and malice. A one Kaitesi enters someone’s office and before even listening to her, she is told to get out of someone’s office and instead go to Rwanda and pick a passport from there. Yet, this young girl has never even stepped in Rwanda.

But among the things our people have missed include job opportunities. Without a National ID, one cannot open up a bank account or have a SIM card registered under their name. Basically, one becomes crippled economically. Further, without a National ID, one cannot easily get a passport, and my sympathies go out to the youth who normally want to fly out for kyeyo (work abroad). Recently, there was a group of indigenous Banyarwanda who missed opportunities after being fully paid for scholarships but hit a glitch after being denied passports.

What have you Abavandimwe leaders done to address these concerns?

In 2024, I petitioned the Parliament of Uganda over the matter, seeking an investigation into the violation of the rights of the Banyarwanda, hoping that the legislators would eventually direct NIRA and the Internal Affairs Ministry to issue our people with passports and National IDs, like any other Ugandan.

Parliament Speaker Anita Among later referred our petition to the House’s Committee of Defence and Internal Affairs. We later interfaced with the committee, and a report was made and presented on the floor of Parliament. But what shocked us was that our submissions were never captured in that report. But rather than sweat the small stuff, we were happy that at least the matter was raised on the floor of Parliament and captured in The Hansard.

We also went to the Constitutional Court so that it helps us interpret the Constitution [regarding the matter] as well as wrote to President Museveni over the same dilemma. Good enough, he met us and said it was an administrative matter that did not need involvement from the court. Our meeting with him was done around November 2024. In this meeting and another subsequent one, he also listened to victims, those who had suffered because of these injustices. The President later said, based on the investigations he had done, he was going to issue an executive order over the matter.

Was the executive order issued?

Yes, President Museveni issued the executive order on January 24, 2025, and it is not selective. It does not necessarily target Banyarwanda; rather, it aims at protecting all citizens in the country, whereby he, in part, directed that every Ugandan citizen has a right to a passport or other travel document as well as the right to enter, leave, and return to the country.

What are your prayers, moving forward?

We want the Constitution of Uganda to be applied fairly and not selectively. The way they treat other indigenous communities in Uganda is the same way our people should be treated. The Banyarwanda do not need special favours.

You serve as the national vice-chairperson for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), central region, a civic organisation attributed to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and First Son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who previously mentioned he will not stand in the 2026 General Election. How will PLU participate in the coming elections?

Our chairman, Kainerugaba, instead instructed us to give all the support to Yoweri Museveni [the incumbent President and father of Gen Muhoozi].

Speaking of PLU, have you ever had a conversation with Gen Muhoozi about his controversial tweets?

Well, there are those that I see but then pretend to have not seen them [laughs]. But then again, that is his Twitter handle. You look [at the tweets] sometimes and laugh, but again, what do you do?

But ‘certain’ tweets have caused a storm within Uganda and globally.

Yes, we had some of those conversations, and he will say, ‘I think you are very right,’ but then again, the following week, he does the [opposite]. But again, what do you do? Of course, he is just joking. Do you think he can hang [former FDC leader Kizza] Besigye? Behead [NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka] Bobi Wine? No way. How?

Any plans of ever standing for a political office?

I don’t see myself in politics. In this country, politics is dead. Politics, to me, is about transforming people’s lives. Does it make sense having elections every five years, and besides, do these elections even transform the lives of our people? I don’t see myself in politics [because] I cannot manage voters whom I cannot tell lies to.

And again, people are joining politics because of that assurance of earning Shs30m a month [as an MP]. But surprisingly, when you interact with these MPs, they are broke even with that salary. And they are this way because of the mindset of the voters. An MP must pay for one’s wedding and contribute towards burial expenses, so they are overburdened in the end. Shs30 million is given to you, but then again, you cannot see it.

You do not need to be a politician to transform people’s lives. I am a leader without a title. My life has often rotated around transforming people’s lives, even in my non-political position.

Your thoughts on the United States President Donald Trump’s executive orders suspending foreign aid pending evaluation. Several African countries, including Uganda, are complaining about the impact the suspension has caused.

I am happy [about these executive orders]. Why should we rely on American citizens’ taxpayers’ money? We pretend to be independent as African countries. Do you mean we cannot fund these projects in Uganda? Yes, we can. Unfortunately, money is stolen day in, day out. It is time for Africa to write its destiny.

People are busy crying that Trump has cut aid money, which is supposed to help HIV/AIDS patients. Please! You mean we don’t have that money? Yes, jobs have been cut. Fine! This should be a wake-up call to all Africans that our destiny should be written by us. If we squeezed these vampires in government, we could get that money and fund everything here.