We, the Banyarwanda, Reject Umubano’s Lies and Opportunism!

By Mutesi Joana

On August 30th, the Daily Monitor ran a disturbing story titled “Banyarwanda divided over Museveni endorsement”. In that article, Mukasa Mbidde and Simon Kaitana, self-proclaimed leaders of the long-defunct Ugandan-Banyarwanda Cultural Development Association (Umubano), were quoted attacking the Council for Abavandimwe’s endorsement of President Museveni for the 2026 elections. They falsely claimed that the challenges of indigenous Banyarwanda remain unaddressed and sought to discredit the Council’s decision.

As a proud Munyarwanda born and raised in Uganda, I take deep offense at these statements. I write not only to set the record straight, but also to express the deep betrayal felt by thousands of Banyarwanda who have lived through decades of systemic injustice—while people like Mbidde and his group watched silently from the sidelines.

Umubano has absolutely no moral authority to speak on behalf of the indigenous Banyarwanda. For over 30 years, they have been present in name only, serving the narrow interests of their self-imposed leadership while ignoring the lived realities of our people. They failed to raise their voices when we were denied national IDs and passports. They were nowhere when our elders died without treatment abroad, when our youth missed scholarships, or when Banyarwanda were unable to register land, open bank accounts, or access any service that required citizenship documentation.

The only option for Banyarwanda

Only when the Council for Abavandimwe was formed in 2019 did the silence break. It was this Council—not Umubano—that brought our suffering to the attention of the nation. It was the Council that exposed the systemic discrimination by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, that walked office to office, institution to institution—from the Police to the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Inspectorate of Government, Parliament, and the Office of the President—fighting for our recognition as Ugandans.

This was not an easy journey. Our leader, Frank Gashumba—known to many of us as “Uncle Frank”—was insulted, vilified, and even threatened for speaking the truth. But he never gave up. When all the channels failed, the Council petitioned Parliament, and the matter was discussed by committee of Decence and Internal Affairs as well as the whole Parliament. Eventually, the matter reached the President who tabled it before the Cabinet for discussion. That tireless effort led to Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, which put an end to the discriminatory treatment of Banyarwanda in Uganda.

Council for Bavandimwe endorsing Dr Museveni for 2026

Today, many of us have received national IDs and passports. The documents that were once confiscated from Banyarwanda without cause have been returned. Thousands of young people can now pursue opportunities abroad. They can own land, open a bank account or transact business. Our people are reclaiming their rights—because one organization chose to act while another sat in silence.

For Mbidde—who held a seat in the East African Legislative Assembly for ten years and never once advocated for us—to now criticize the Council for Abavandimwe for endorsing President Museveni is not only hypocritical, it is insulting. It dishonors the memory of people like my father, who died after being denied a passport that would have allowed him to seek treatment in India. It mocks the pain of single mothers who were blocked from working in the Middle East, not for lack of ability, but because of discrimination.

The endorsement of President Museveni was not an act of political theater. It was a decision rooted in gratitude. He listened when others ignored us. He acted when others denied us. He signed the Executive Order that has restored dignity to our people.

If Mbidde and his group choose not to support the President, that is their right. But they must never pretend to speak for us. They must not use our name to peddle lies and promote agendas that do nothing but serve their egos.

Let the record be clear: we, the Banyarwanda, stand with the Council for Abavandimwe. We reject the opportunism of Umubano. We will not allow our voices to be hijacked by men who only appear to criticize, yet never lift a finger to help. The days of silence are over. We know who stood with us—and who abandoned us.