Published on 30/11/2024
Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Robinah Nabbanja has assured Parliament that government will address the plight of Abavandimwe, a community of Ugandans of Rwandese origin.
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,” said Nabbanja.
Nabbanja was responding to the report of the Committee on Defence and Veteran Affairs on the petition by the Council of Abavandimwe on Thursday, 28 November 2024 during the House sitting chaired by Speaker, Anita Among.
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.
They 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.
However, the findings of the Committee on Defence and Veteran Affairs presented by the Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye established illegalities on the side of the petitioners.
“A total of 4,554 applicants were red flagged for having fraudulently acquired IDs pending NIRA cross examination. There were 4,357 persons who have received notice to cancel their registration due to inaccurate information or fraudulent registration,” said Kajwengye.
The committee recommended that the aggrieved persons pursue the dispute resolution process as outlined in Section 83 of the Registration of Persons Act if they are dissatisfied with the operations of NIRA.
The Speaker ruled that the actions of the President in addressing the plight of the petitioners supersedes the committee recommendations and halted adoption of the report.
“This is a very sensitive matter for you to discuss; we want action from the Prime Minister. There is executive action being taken by government. We shall wait for the action from government before we adopt the report,” Among said.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi proposed that Parliament should proceed and adopt the report as it waits on government’s promise to respond to petitioners.
“Considering the doctrine of separation of powers, I thought it would be prudent to do what we ought to do and not abdicate the responsibility of Parliament. We neatly finish the job, process the report and let the executive do its job,” Ssenyonyi said.
Kalungu West MP, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu who is also the mover of the motion for government to consider the petition said that government must be given deadlines for its actions.
The Premier said a report on action taken will be presented to the House in two months.
