Banyarwanda Disown Mbidde, Welcome Museveni’s Executive Order!

Kampala, 25th Jan 2025

The different groups of the indigenous Banyarwanda have denounced Fred Mukasa Mbidde and welcomed with excitement the Executive Order that was issued by the President of Uganda Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directing on the issuance of National Identity Cards and Passports.

In a press conference held at Serena Hotel in Kampala on 24th Jan 2024, the three groups which included Council for Abavandimwe, Umubano and Nhuti Nya Nshuti welcomed the Executive Order that was signed by the President Yoweri Museveni on the 23rd Jan 2025 in which he directed all agencies of government to treat all Ugandans including Banyarwanda equally while processing National Identity Cards and Passports as opposed to how they have been discriminating Banyarwanda by subjecting then to humiliating processes and asking them to buy citizenship through naturalization as if they are not Ugandans.

Although the eleven point Executive Order was elaborate in addressing the suffering that the indigenous Banyarwanda have been going through to process their documents including having some of them confiscated or deleted from the system, lawyer Fred Mukasa Mbidde threatened to go to the East African Court claiming that the problems of Banyarwanda will not be addressed by the Executive order. Mbidde alongside Donat Kananura and a one Kayitana have been mascourading as the leaders of Umubano following the death of Dr Ephraim Kamuhangire in late 2024 who had bren the Chairperson since 2010. However this group has been denounced by Banyarwanda saying that they have never been voted to lead Umubano. These accused Mbidde of being a self seeker who is blackmailing government for his selfish motives and warned anyone who deals with them to do it at their own cost.

Indigenous Banyarwanda meeting at Serena Hotel

Gashegu Muramira the leader of Nshuti Nya Nshuti accused Mbidde of selfishness, “What has Mbidde done in the fight for our rights? why is he waking up now when we have made some achievements only to disorganize us?” said Muramira. On his case Frank Gashumba, the Chairman Council for Abavandimwe, accused Mbidde of being an opportunist who wants to use the suffering of the indigenous Banyarwanda for his own interests. “Mbidde has been a Member of Parliament in the East African Legislative Assembly, why didn’t he raise these issues there? He probably has a diplomatic passport (Red or Green) and that’s why he has not bothered, for us we are fighting for the poor women and youths who need a passport to go and clean toilets in Dubai or an old man or woman who needs a passport to to go for treatment abroad, those are the people we are fighting for” noted Gashumba.

Majoro Grace Kabayo a Senior Presidential Advisor on Special dutes also accused Mbidde of opportunist and confusion. “We are fighting for the ordinary people and the President has rubbed our tears and Mbidde is saying no, who is Mbidde? How many land mark cases has he won in Courts of law to take government of Uganda to Court?” charged Majoro Grace. To “When he went to the President he thanked him for sponsoring him to East African Legislative Assembly as well as giving him 50 cows for his wedding, that means he has been benefiting from President Museveni, why can’t he let the ordinary people also get their basic rights?” said Majoro Grace.

Background

The indigenous Banyarwanda have suffered for years as many of them are denied passports and National Identity Cards while others have had their documents confiscated or deleted from the system. Hundreds have ended up losing job opportunities, scholarships as well as opportunities to travel abroad for treatment.

However the Council For Abavandimwe started on a campaign to champion these concerns where they met several leaders including presenting the issues in Parliament. It’s until they met the President and he issued an Executive Order stopping all that harassment.