Parliament Summons Bavandimwe For Meeting on Citizenship Rights Violations

The Parliament of Uganda has summoned the Council for Abavandimwe to appear before Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs regarding infringements by the government on the rights of Banyarwanda who were born and raised in Uganda.

Council for Abavandimwe is an umbrella association that brings together Banyarwanda born and raised in Uganda.

In a letter dated May 15th 2024 which Our Reporter has seen, Emmanuel Opio writing on behalf of the Clerk to Parliament has written to the Chairman Council for Abavandimwe, Frank Gashumba inviting him for a meeting that will take place on May 16th 2024.

“Kindly come along with fifteen hardcopies of a detailed written submission on the petition and email a soft copy thereof before the meeting to…” reads the letter.

Parliament’s Letter to the Council for Abavandimwe Chairman.

In response to the summons, Gashumba has also invited all the Banyarwanda Community to show up so as to present their concerns before the Committee for redress.

“As you are aware, following numerous complaints from hundreds of Ugandan Banyarwanda who have been subjected to denial of Citizenship and denial of nationality by NIRA and the passport office over the years, and following many empty promises by both NIRA and the passport office to put into place the necessary administrative and policy measures to guard against violation of our rights, we petitioned the Right Hon Speaker of Parliament whereupon the Rt Hon Speaker had our petition tabled and discussed in a plenary session of Parliament, after which the same was referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs for further discussion “, reads the invite.

The letter to the Banyarwanda Community from the Chairman Council for Abavandimwe, Frank Gashumba.

On April 16th 2024, the Parliament Chaired by the Rt Hon Anita Annet Among passed the motion arising from the petition by the Council for Abavandimwe which highlighted issues of gross citizenship and human rights violations by different government entities in the country.

Some of their concerns is that they are victims of the ongoing denial of national IDs and passports .

However, they argue that they are more concerned that they are issued voter slips every five years to vote during general elections, but dismissed as non-Ugandans when they apply for national IDs and passports.

The motion which was presented by Kalungu Member of Parliament Hon Gonzaga Sewungu was grounded on ten issues.

“Ugandan Banyarwanda have not only been denied passports and national identity cards but the previous passports held by these persons have been confiscated, which has caused pain, suffering and psychological torture”, said Sewungu.

A group of Banvandimwe appearing Before the Parliament on Tuesday April 16th 2024.

Prior to the passing of the motion, the Bavandimwe had a meeting with the Speaker Among who promised to make sure that parliament and government addresses their long standing outcries.

Left to Right: Vice Chairman Council for Abavandimwe Dr Lawrence Muganga who also doubles as the Victoria University Vice Chancellor , Chairman Frank Gashumba , Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and MP Gonzaga Sewungu.

The Ugandan Banyarwanda became an indigenous tribe following the annexation of Rwanda’s border territories affecting areas such as Kisoro, Kigezi, Ndorwa among others.