The Ugandan Banyarwanda communities have petitioned Parliament, protesting the unbearable segregation and harassment by government agencies.

In a petition presented by MP Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) in Kalungu district, the group prominently claimed that they are being denied access to passports and national identification cards by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The group claimed that the segregation and harassment directly prove that the government is infringing on their rights as a duly recognized tribe in Uganda.

While presenting the petition, MP Ssewungu said that Ugandan-Banyarwanda have not only been denied passports and national identity cards, but the previous passports held by the persons in question have been confiscated, which has caused pain, suffering, and psychological torture.

“The segregation against Ugandan Banyarwanda in terms of acquiring passports is coming from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and not the general public. They have also been denied opportunities for employment both in Uganda and abroad,” the petition read in part.

The Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, referred the petition to the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs and reported back within 45 days in accordance with Rule 30(10) of the Rules of Procedure.

The Ugandan Banyarwanda became an indigenous tribe following the annexation of Rwanda’s border territories, affecting areas such as Kisoro, Kigezi, and Ndorwa, among others.