President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a new directive requiring Banyarwanda immigrants who arrived in Uganda after 1962 to pay citizenship registration fees.

The decision, made following a meeting with the ‘Bavandimwe’ community on June 23, 2025, at State House, Entebbe, aims to clarify the country’s citizenship registration process.

In a statement on his official X account, Museveni re-echoed the importance of distinguishing between immigrant categories based on their time of arrival in Uganda.

He emphasized that those who arrived after 1962 will be required to pay fees for registration and immigration documentation.

However, immigrants who settled in Uganda before 1962 particularly those whose families were in the country before the final borders were drawn in 1926 will be exempt from these fees.

“No payments should be made by those who were here by 1962. Those who came after 1962 should pay,” Museveni declared.

The President also addressed concerns over alleged mistreatment of Banyarwanda immigrants, expressing frustration with what he called “misleading claims” regarding the treatment of the community.

According to him, citizenship issues should be managed by local leaders and elders, not central authorities.

“I was beginning to think that some people were making false allegations for ulterior motives,” the President said.

These committees, which will include Local Council I (LCI) members, ISO officers, and respected elders, will be responsible for verifying the citizenship status of immigrants.

The President’s directive serves as a means to decentralize the citizenship verification process and effectively address long-standing concerns over immigrant citizenship status.