KAMPALA, Uganda — The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the immediate removal of immigration officers accused of obstructing Ugandan citizens of Banyarwanda origin from obtaining national identity cards, a move that has sparked a nationwide debate on social media.
In a social media post on Wednesday 4, February 2026, Gen. Muhoozi said the officers had been “making life hard” for Ugandan-Banyarwanda seeking identification documents and instructed that they be replaced immediately.
“I have decided to remove all the officers in immigration that were making life hard for our Ugandan-Banyarwanda to get IDs immediately. Others will be appointed soon,” he wrote.
He cited a personal incident involving his grandmother, Kaka Bella, who was allegedly denied a national ID, describing it as unacceptable and warning that those implicated would face legal consequences.
The announcement drew widespread public reactions, with users sharing personal accounts of alleged discrimination and corruption within immigration services. One social media user, Rare, recalled being denied a passport in Mbarara in 2023 despite being born in Ntungamo.
“The officer said I couldn’t be ‘half potato, half cassava’ and demanded Shs200,000,” he wrote.
Others welcomed the move as a long-overdue intervention. Rwandan journalist Edmund Kagire described the directive as “groundbreaking,” saying Banyarwanda citizens had faced systemic discrimination for decades.
Similarly, Edith Biraaro called it “a bold and necessary step,” urging fair treatment for all Ugandans.
Some commentators, however, cautioned that the removal of officers must be paired with proper verification processes to prevent identity fraud. Juliet Tumusiime stressed that applications should be validated through the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to ensure authenticity.
The Banyarwanda are recognised as Uganda’s 24th indigenous community under the 1995 Constitution, but members of the Abavandimwe group have long complained of systemic discrimination, particularly during passport and national ID application processes.
Also Read: Banyarwanda with Ugandan IDs should get passports, Museveni orders
In January 2025, President Yoweri Museveni issued an Executive Order aimed at addressing these concerns, directing immigration officials to presume citizenship unless credible evidence suggests otherwise, and prohibiting the confiscation of national IDs without due process.
Gen. Muhoozi’s directive reinforces the government’s commitment to enforcing these policies and ensuring that all citizens, regardless of ethnic background, can access identification documents without obstruction.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by minority communities in Uganda and renewed discussions on the need for transparent and accountable public services.
Observers say the move may also set a precedent for curbing corruption and improving citizen access to essential documentation across government agencies.
