President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has rejected a request by Rwandan settlers, also known as ‘Bavandimwe’, to be recognised and registered as Ugandan citizens with dual nationality, in a move that reiterates Uganda’s stance on national identity.
The President made his position clear during a meeting held on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, at the State House in Entebbe, with a delegation of the Bavandimwe community led by their Chairperson, Frank Gashumba.
The decision underscores a firm approach to citizenship, balancing historical ties and humanitarian considerations with national sovereignty and legal frameworks.
While acknowledging the long-standing presence of these communities in Uganda, President Museveni drew a clear line on the issue of dual citizenship.
“I met with a group from the Ugandan Banyarwanda community at State House in Entebbe. I assured them of my commitment to protecting their rights and identity as Ugandans. Those who have lived here for decades and are recognised by local leaders should not be harassed,” President Museveni stated after the meeting.
This assurance aims to alleviate concerns among long-term residents and ensure their safety and integration within Ugandan society.
However, the President made it clear to them that dual citizenship can’t be accepted!
“What we cannot accept is dual citizenship. One must make a choice; you cannot be both. Even I, as a Muhooro, recognise this. If I wish to be Rwandan, I would go to Rwanda, but I cannot claim both identities. We will form a committee to ensure fairness and truth prevail,” Museveni stated.
Uganda’s Dual Citizenship Law
Uganda’s nationality law, as amended by the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act of 2009, generally allows for dual citizenship. This provision was introduced to accommodate Ugandans in the diaspora who acquired citizenship elsewhere and also to attract foreign investors or skilled professionals who might wish to become Ugandan citizens while retaining their original nationality.
However, there are specific conditions and limitations which include:
A person can only hold two nationalities, one of which must be Ugandan. Holding more than two is not permitted.
Applicants for dual citizenship, whether Ugandans acquiring foreign citizenship or non-Ugandans seeking Ugandan citizenship, must comply with a complex series of conditions, including proving that their other nationality also permits dual citizenship.
Certain high-ranking government offices, such as the President or Minister, are prohibited from being held by dual citizens.
President Museveni’s directive to the ‘Bavandimwe’ community appears to hinge on the principle that, for this specific group, given their historical context and the potential for complex geopolitical implications, a clear choice of national allegiance is required.
The word ‘Bavandimwe’ refers to ethnic Banyarwanda who have lived in Uganda for generations, some predating colonial borders, while others arrived as economic migrants or refugees due to conflicts in Rwanda.
Their historical presence and claims to indigeneity in certain parts of Uganda have often been a subject of debate and, at times, discrimination.
Over the years, the question of their citizenship and integration has been a sensitive issue, often leading to harassment and denial of rights for individuals of Rwandan origin, regardless of their legitimate claims to Ugandan citizenship by birth or long-term residency.
The ‘Abavandimwe’ (meaning ‘brethren’ in Kinyarwanda) movement emerged as a collective voice for these communities, seeking clarity and recognition of their status.
It is important to note, however, that President Museveni’s announcement of forming a committee to ensure “fairness and truth prevail” suggests an effort to establish a transparent and equitable process for determining the citizenship status of individuals within the ‘Bavandimwe’ community.
This committee will likely be tasked with verifying claims of residency, ancestry, and other criteria against Uganda’s existing citizenship laws, while operating under the principle of requiring a singular national identity from those seeking to fully integrate as Ugandan citizens.
This decision, while denying the request for dual citizenship for the ‘Bavandimwe’, aims to provide clarity and stability for thousands of people whose identity and allegiance have long been a matter of contention.
It highlights Uganda’s and President Museveni’s commitment to protecting the rights of those genuinely recognised as Ugandans while asserting its national policy on citizenship in a complex regional context.