Kampala, Uganda – January 9, 2025
The Council for Abavandimwe is set to address the nation on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in a landmark meeting at Speke Hotel, Kampala, starting at 2:00 PM. This meeting comes months after President Yoweri Museveni engaged with the Council’s leadership to discuss the systemic violations of citizenship rights faced by Uganda’s indigenous Banyarwanda community.
In a statement released today, the Council highlighted the profound emotional toll caused by rejection, likening it to physical pain. Citing scientific studies, they noted that rejection activates the same areas of the brain as physical injury, underscoring the severe impact of discrimination on mental and emotional well-being.
For years, the Council for Abavandimwe has been at the forefront of fighting against what it describes as institutionalized persecution, victimization, and segregation targeting the Banyarwanda community. The alleged injustices include denial of national IDs and passports, deactivation of IDs, and the confiscation of documents at border points by certain elements within the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and immigration authorities.
The Council has actively engaged with key government institutions over the past year, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the Parliament of Uganda. Their advocacy culminated in direct dialogue with President Museveni, who reportedly expressed keen interest in the matter.
According to the Council, the President discussed the issue during a recent cabinet meeting, with the Prime Minister later confirming the discussion. The Council is optimistic that this intervention marks a significant step toward resolving the injustices faced by the Banyarwanda.
The Saturday meeting will not only provide updates on these developments but also serve as a platform for individuals affected by the alleged violations to seek redress. The Council specifically invited those whose national IDs have been deactivated or confiscated, or who have been denied travel documents, to attend.
“This is a defining moment for the Banyarwanda community,” the Council’s statement read. “Let us unite to ensure that our citizenship rights are fully recognized and upheld.”
The Council urged all affected individuals, community members, and well-wishers to join the meeting in solidarity.
