'We are Banyarwanda not Bavandimwe as being mooted by Mr. Frank Gashumba and some State Agents. We have suspended him (Gashumba) from our affairs and also petitioned the president over this matter,' Simon Kaiyitana Chairman-Umubano Task Force & Member of Buganda Lukiiko told the press on October 29, 2024.
He revealed that Gashumba has been suspended with immediate effect and request to stop peddling his personal interests using Abavandimwe disguising as Banyarwanda.
according to plan, there are scheduled meetings between Banyarwanda and the leaderships of all Kingdoms and cultural institutions in the country during the ongoing countrywide consultations expected to end on December 01, 2024.
The cultural institutions to be consulted include Buganda Kingdom, Tooro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kingdom, Busoga Kingdom, Rwenzururu Kingdom, Rwoti Cultural Institution and others to solicit views and support for a proposed amendment bill regarding right to citizenship, identification and certification of Ugandans.
Kayitana also said that his group will meet the European Union Representative in Uganda, the British and United Nations and United States Ambassadors, and other members of the donor community over the same matter.
Hon. Dr. Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the Legal Advisor to UMUBANO Task Force said that the Uganda Government and President of the Republic of Uganda has been put to notice that over six million Kinyarwanda-speaking people in Uganda are now stateless because of the wrongful constitutional provision under Article 10.
He explained that the proposed law seeks an amendment of the first section of the article to delete and replace the year 1926 with 1962 as well as introduce the 'Jus soli' principle of international Law on citizenship by birth for all persons born in Uganda while maintaining the Jus Snguinis principle already applied under the law.
Other amendments include introduction of freedom of access to citizenship rights through proper management, certification, identification, recognition and equal opportunities for both roving and borderline ethnic groups as well as amendment of the immigration law 'mutatis mutandis'.
Mbidde highlighted that the above process has been reduced into a fully-fledged memorandum that shall be handed over to Government for ultimate consideration.
After engaging all Banyarwanda across the country, the task formed will hold a major public hearing at Kololo Independence Grounds on the final day of the consultations.
Sam K Nkurunziza
