Kampala, (UG):- Uganda’s Prime Minister Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja has assured the Abavandimwe, a community of Ugandans of Rwandese origin, that the government led by His Excellency President Museveni is actively working to address the plight of formal identification and citizenship status.
Speaking during the Thursday plenary chaired by Speaker Anita Among at Parliament chambers in Kampala, Hon Nabbanja said that the Abavandimwe who petitioned Parliament in April 2024 decrying discrimination and violation of their citizenship rights have met with President Yoweri Museveni who promised to address their concerns.
“The President met this group on 23 October and briefed the Cabinet on 28 October 2024. The relevant ministry is taking action and we are doing a lot to make sure this is solved,” the PM said in response to the report of the Committee on Defence and Veteran Affairs on the petition by the Council of Abavandimwe.
The Council of Abavandimwe in their petition alleged that the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DICIC) confiscated their national identity cards (IDs) and passports and declined those who applied for the same.
The community sought Parliament’s intervention saying lack of IDs and passports has significantly affected their livelihood as they cannot transact in banks, and that those whose passports expired while working or studying abroad were forced to abandon their jobs and studies.
The Speaker Anita Among urged the Premier to seek immediate action from the President in addressing the plight of the petitioners saying; “This is a very sensitive matter for you to discuss; we want action from the Prime Minister. There is executive action being taken by the government. We shall wait for the action from government before we adopt the report.”
The Premier in response said a report on the President’s action taken will be presented to the House in two months, a development which demonstrates the government’s dedication to ensuring equality and fairness for all citizens.
“I am now giving a timeframe, Hon Speaker I beg that government be given two months to act on this,” Nabbanja assured.
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