Kampala, Uganda —
A recent incident involving the passport application process has sparked accusations of discrimination against Ugandan Banyarwanda by officials at the Immigration Office. Frank M. Gashumba, Chairman of the Council for Abavandimwe, has publicly condemned the treatment of a staff member who faced undue obstacles while applying for an express passport.
The applicant, who urgently needed to travel out of the country, paid Ugshs 400,000 for the express service. However, upon arrival at the passport office, an official identified as Kajuga Dickson requested the applicant bring her mother for verification. After complying, the applicant was then asked to bring her father, who was subsequently rejected by Kajuga and his team.
Gashumba criticized Kajuga for ignoring a directive from Gen. David Muhoozi, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, to issue the passport. He highlighted Gen. Muhoozi’s authority and legal expertise, questioning the impunity and defiance displayed by immigration officials.
The incident has brought to light broader concerns of systemic discrimination against Ugandan Banyarwanda, despite their recognition as an indigenous ethnic community in the 1995 Constitution. Gashumba argued that no other ethnic group in Uganda faces similar harassment and segregation.
He pointed out that many Ugandan Banyarwanda, despite being taxpayers and regular voters, are often unfairly declared non-Ugandans by immigration officials. The applicant in question, whose father holds several local government positions and has a national ID and passport, was only granted a 5-year passport instead of the standard 10-year term, indicating further bias.
Gashumba’s statement emphasized the need for Ugandan Banyarwanda to resist efforts to naturalize as they are already bona fide Ugandans. He questioned the loyalty expected from Banyarwanda towards a regime that allows such violations of their citizenship rights.
This incident has raised significant concerns about the treatment of Ugandan Banyarwanda and calls for immediate reforms in the passport issuance process to ensure fairness and respect for all citizens.
