• Frank Gashumba, a prominent Ugandan activist, has publicly defended the Banyarwanda community, affirming their status as indigenous Ugandans. 
  • In a televised interview, he criticized years of systemic discrimination, particularly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which has denied many Banyarwanda access to national identification and passports. 

Frank Gashumba has come forward to confirm that the Banyarwanda are an indigenous group in Uganda. During his appearance on NBS TV, Gashumba, who himself is Munyarwanda, expressed how they have encountered significant discrimination, particularly from government agencies.

Frank Gashumba

He pointed out that many of them frequently face challenges in obtaining National IDs, passports, and other essential documentation, specifically highlighting the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a source of their difficulties.

He mentioned that, after exhausting all avenues, including meeting with the late Speaker, Hon Jacob Oulanyah, they were ready to approach the courts but chose to first contact the President.

Fortunately, H.E. Museveni granted them a meeting, and upon learning about their concerns, he informed them that the Constitution already addressed their situation by recognizing them as natives.

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He then issued a presidential directive in January directing the Ministry of Internal Affairs to acknowledge these Banyarwanda, who have renamed themselves Bavandimwe, as Ugandans.

Nevertheless, for six months, this executive order was ignored until they sought another audience with the President, who granted it. Museveni instructed these officials to consistently work with local council leadership to verify the claims made by these individuals.

According to Gashumba, the Banyarwanda were identified as the 24th group in the very first census conducted in 1911.

Thus, many of them have existed longer than the nation of Uganda itself and have no historical ties to the country now known as Rwanda. Therefore, facing discrimination compared to other tribes is an unlawful practice that must cease.

The Banyarwanda in Uganda are indeed numerous and are spread across the country, particularly in the western and central regions. However, because Rwanda exists as a country, many believe that this is where they belong and that they should not have a place in Uganda.