Uganda: President Museveni Affirms Ugandan Identity for Abavandimwe, Calls for Clarity on Citizenship
Published: 27/Jun/2025
Source: Uganda Broadcasting Corporation
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the rights and identity of long-time residents of Rwandan descent in Uganda, urging officials to treat such communities with fairness and dignity.
While meeting the Banyarwanda (Abavandimwe) community on Wednesday 25th June 2025 at State House, Entebbe, the President emphasized that individuals who have lived in Uganda for decades and are verified by local authorities, should be fully recognized as Ugandans.
“The people who have been here for generations, and are known by their communities, should not be harassed or denied services. They deserve respect and their rights,” President Museveni said.
He underscored that Ugandan citizenship whether by birth, registration, or naturalization is a constitutional right and should not be denied through bureaucratic delays or unlawful scrutiny.
“By the 1950s, when I was growing up in Ntungamo, we the Bahooro were already part of Uganda. The 1995 Constitution is clear—those who were here by 1926 are citizens,” he noted.
Executive Order on Citizenship Enforcement:
Citing his constitutional authority under Article 99(1) and (4), the President reaffirmed an executive directive to guide the lawful determination of citizenship, especially for long-term residents seeking national IDs and passports
Key directives include; Verification through local leadership: Applicants with endorsement letters from LC1, LC3, GISO, and RDC should be deemed legitimate citizens.
Birthright citizenship: Those born in Uganda should not be rejected without compelling evidence to the contrary.
Community-based identification: Where formal documentation is unavailable, testimony from relatives under oath, corroborated by elders and local leaders, should be accepted.
Administrative clarity: Immigration officers are to refer citizenship disputes to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), not to make arbitrary decisions.
Read further: https://ubc.go.ug/2025/06/27/president-museveni-affirms-ugandan-identity-for-abavandimwe-calls-for-clarity-on-citizenship/