[gpt3]
By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/ Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: In a candid interview with Umoja Standard News Agency, Justine Bukyana Namakula, the Publicity Secretary of Umubano, a group advocating for the rights of Banyarwanda in Uganda, shared her personal family history and detailed the challenges faced by many in her community regarding citizenship and national identification. Bukyana, whose family has deep roots in Uganda, revealed the ongoing struggles faced by Banyarwanda, including the denial of essential services, such as passports, based on their ethnic background.
“My grandfather came to Uganda in 1918,” Bukyana began, recounting her family’s long history in the country. “He settled in Busiro, at Bakka in Wakiso District, at Mr. Kinene’s home in the Lugave Clan. He grew up there, married my grandmother, and had my father in 1942.”
She explained how her family has remained in Uganda for generations, yet despite their long history in the country, they face persistent challenges tied to their ethnicity. “My father too grew up here, married my mother, and now, both of them have passed away. Their graves are in Buganda, in Kyankwanzi. I buried my grandparents at Wakyato, Nakaseke District, in Bulemezi.”
Having grown up in Uganda, Bukyana herself moved to Kampala and raised five children in Nakulabye-Mukiyaye, near West Church. However, a distressing experience involving one of her children highlighted the deep-rooted issues her community faces. “It is so absurd when one of my children, who was sponsored by President Museveni during his education, went to apply for a passport and was denied by immigration officials,” she explained
. The reason given was that he was supposedly a Rwandan, based on the claim of an individual named Kajuga. This incident, Bukyana said, was part of a broader pattern of discrimination that many Banyarwanda in Uganda have experienced for decades.
She expressed frustration over the systemic nature of such treatment, noting that these issues have been ongoing for a long time. As a member of the Umubano group, which was founded by the late Kamuhangire, Bukyana highlighted that her community has long fought for equity and recognition in Uganda. “Banyarwanda in Uganda have for decades lamented about such treatment,” she said, pointing out that the problem extends beyond isolated incidents. “If you asked how many Banyarwanda were denied passports, they could fill Namboole Stadium.”
Bukyana also expressed gratitude to Frank Gashumba, the leader of the Council for Abavandimwe, another group fighting for Banyarwanda rights. Gashumba took a proactive approach, directly approaching President Yoweri Museveni to address the issue, which had become a growing concern.
Bukyana praised Gashumba’s efforts, acknowledging that his intervention had a significant impact. “Mr. Gashumba decided to look for President Museveni personally, as the issue had gotten out of hand,” she said. “When the President was informed, he was shocked and asked Gashumba to bring some of the affected individuals. Gashumba brought twelve victims, and the President was genuinely surprised by their stories.”
The meeting with President Museveni proved pivotal. Bukyana described how the President was not only surprised by the scale of the problem but also took steps to address it. “The President summoned Umubano and Nshuti Nyanshuti, and together, we were educated on the different categories of Banyarwanda in Uganda.
He explained that the role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) was to request documentation from local councils (LC1, LC2, LC3, LC5), and if there were any doubts, investigations should be based on those documents. They should not arbitrarily deny anyone services once they have met all the necessary requirements.”
As a result of this intervention, President Museveni issued an executive order regarding the rights of Banyarwanda, instructing that such discriminatory practices be stopped. However, Bukyana expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in implementing the order. “I am unhappy with the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” she said.
“Article 99, sections 1 and 4, talks about the powers of the President, and I’m wondering why they haven’t acted on his orders. In countries like America, President Trump’s executive orders are swiftly enforced, but here, it seems different.”
Bukyana went on to highlight the pervasive nature of discrimination faced by Banyarwanda. She explained that even individuals with official roles, such as her son, who is a police officer, have been denied essential services like passports. “Imagine my son is a policeman but was denied a passport. If he has all the qualifications to become a policeman, why would he be denied a passport?”
Frustrated by the continued resistance from NIRA and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Bukyana and her group have set an ultimatum. “If they don’t act on the President’s executive order, we will take further steps and inform you of what we shall do next,” she stated firmly.
Despite the challenges, Bukyana expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his attention to the matter. “I want to thank the President for being a true father who listens and acts. The only gift we can give him is to ask all Ugandans to vote for him again in the 2026-2031 elections,” she concluded.
The ongoing battle for recognition and fair treatment of Banyarwanda in Uganda remains a pressing issue, and many await further developments following the President’s executive order. The next steps in this struggle will undoubtedly be pivotal for the community’s future in the country.
1,341
Related
/gpt]
