Who are the Banyarwanda of Uganda?
I am a Ugandan, or at least was gazzetted to be one by the Uganda constitution of 1995 which names Banyarwanda as one of the tribes of Uganda.
SIR — I am a Ugandan, or at least was gazzetted to be one by the Uganda constitution of 1995 which names Banyarwanda as one of the tribes of Uganda.
Last year, my sister applied for a passport to urgently travel to the UK for further studies and proudly or ‘mistakenly’ indicated ‘Nyarwanda’ as her tribe. after about four months of checking, she was bluntly told that Banyarwanda are not entitled to hold Ugandan passports!
So she missed that golden chance in her life but she kept it to herself until early this year when she leant that I was planning to go for further studies abroad and was also going to apply for a passport.
On telling me her fate, I consulted some friends in the security circles who advised me to call myself a Mufumbira. Having been a teacher in Kisoro for sometime, I rushed there and filled forms using their LCs.
Remember, I could not change my name as it was clear on my academic papers. After a month, I was told to present a recommendation from my area MP to show that he knew me as his constituent. Luckily enough, I had registered from there.
So when I presented my voter’s card he recommended me. In three months, I got the passport and I am now settled. I appeal to our MPs to specify whom they meant when they referred to Banyarwanda who are Ugandans.
At least I know that my father was born in Rweikiniro sub-county, Ruhaama county, Ntungamo district, and my grandfather migrated from Tanzania where they had migrated to from Rwanda over 100 years ago.
I appeal to the ministry of Internal Affairs to iron out this matter because it could whip up unnecessary tribal sentiments in our country.
There are many Banyarwanda like me who were born and grew up in Uganda and know no other country they call home!
Caleb Habimaana Ntungamo
SIR — When Idi Amin expelled Asians in 1972, he did not distinguish Ugandan Asians from British ones.
Because he had a personal quarrel with Britain, even Ugandan citizens suffered when he decided to settle the score.
I think it is important to respect people’s identity. A Ugandan of whatever ethnicity is a Ugandan and Amin was totally out of order to expel Ugandans of Asian origin. If one is a Ugandan, that is enough. His or her ethnicity is totally irrelevant.
Look at Aggrey Awori and Moody Awori. The two are siblings born of the same parents but one is Kenyan and the other is Ugandan. many times the Banyarwanda of Uganda are also inconvenienced over the citizenship issue when the Uganda constitution of 1995 is very clear about their identity.
I think the Ugandan Asians were right when they proposed that they should be considered as one of the tribes in Uganda.
For many of them, their situation is not different from that of the Banyarwanda. The only difference is colour.
Jeniffer Mutesi, Kibaale
Last year, my sister applied for a passport to urgently travel to the UK for further studies and proudly or ‘mistakenly’ indicated ‘Nyarwanda’ as her tribe. after about four months of checking, she was bluntly told that Banyarwanda are not entitled to hold Ugandan passports!
So she missed that golden chance in her life but she kept it to herself until early this year when she leant that I was planning to go for further studies abroad and was also going to apply for a passport.
On telling me her fate, I consulted some friends in the security circles who advised me to call myself a Mufumbira. Having been a teacher in Kisoro for sometime, I rushed there and filled forms using their LCs.
Remember, I could not change my name as it was clear on my academic papers. After a month, I was told to present a recommendation from my area MP to show that he knew me as his constituent. Luckily enough, I had registered from there.
So when I presented my voter’s card he recommended me. In three months, I got the passport and I am now settled. I appeal to our MPs to specify whom they meant when they referred to Banyarwanda who are Ugandans.
At least I know that my father was born in Rweikiniro sub-county, Ruhaama county, Ntungamo district, and my grandfather migrated from Tanzania where they had migrated to from Rwanda over 100 years ago.
I appeal to the ministry of Internal Affairs to iron out this matter because it could whip up unnecessary tribal sentiments in our country.
There are many Banyarwanda like me who were born and grew up in Uganda and know no other country they call home!
Caleb Habimaana Ntungamo
SIR — When Idi Amin expelled Asians in 1972, he did not distinguish Ugandan Asians from British ones.
Because he had a personal quarrel with Britain, even Ugandan citizens suffered when he decided to settle the score.
I think it is important to respect people’s identity. A Ugandan of whatever ethnicity is a Ugandan and Amin was totally out of order to expel Ugandans of Asian origin. If one is a Ugandan, that is enough. His or her ethnicity is totally irrelevant.
Look at Aggrey Awori and Moody Awori. The two are siblings born of the same parents but one is Kenyan and the other is Ugandan. many times the Banyarwanda of Uganda are also inconvenienced over the citizenship issue when the Uganda constitution of 1995 is very clear about their identity.
I think the Ugandan Asians were right when they proposed that they should be considered as one of the tribes in Uganda.
For many of them, their situation is not different from that of the Banyarwanda. The only difference is colour.
Jeniffer Mutesi, Kibaale