Indigenous Banyarwanda applauds NIRA's move to restore their right to National IDs. 

The Indigenous Banyarwanda living in Uganda are celebrating a milestone in their struggle to regain their dignity, which they say have been restored through the executive order from the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni guiding National Identity Regulation Authority (NIRA) and immigration department to address the issue of discrimination during issuance of National Identity cards and passports.  

The Banyarwanda in returning the favour have decided to endorse the President in the forthcoming general elections in 2026 whom they commend for listening to their long-denied rights and addressed it.

During the launch of the mobilization drive on 20th August 2025 at Serena Hotel in Kampala, The Co-founder of The Council of Abavandimwe, Mr. Frank Gashumba said that “The President listens to us and in a historic decision, issued the Executive Order No. 1of 2025. With a stroke of a pen, our long-denied rights were restored”

Mr. Gashumba said that following the guidance by the President, the dignity of the indigenous Banyarwanda was restored, exhibited by the implementation of the directive to issue National Identity card without discrimination from NIRA administrators.

“Without a National ID, and a passport you are economically crippled. You can conduct many transactions such travelling, buying property, jobs. As we talk, NIRA is fully implementing the executive order and is now issuing national IDs to indigenous Banyarwanda without discrimination” he said

Mr. Frank Gashumba addressing the press

He however sighted some existing challenges with the department of immigration in the ministry of internal affairs, which they are optimistic will come to an end too. He declared there endorsement to vote General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and we will rally every Munyarwanda in Uganda to do the same.  

“Over 8000 Banyarwanda were denied passports, it was greed that a desk will place at the Immigration offices to solve the backlog” he said

Bukyana Justine, in charge of Publicity, Council of Abavandimwe said that they are rallying all indigenous Banyarwanda for addressing their long-time challenges including denial of passports and national Identity cards.

“Since 1962, Banyarwand have passed through over the years. We are supporting president Museveni because he is the first president to clear our long-standing problem” she said

During prayers for the commitment 

“For decades, Banyarwanda suffered in silence. Though born and raised in Uganda, we were denied national ids and passports not for wrong doing but for who we are. Lives lost, dreams shuttered. We were foreigners in our own land, victims of unpatriotic technocrats” partly reads the statement.