Leaders of Ugandan-Banyarwanda have launched a nationwide mobilisation campaign encouraging their communities and young voters to support President Museveni in the upcoming 2026 General Election.
The initiative by the Council for Abavandimwe comes in response to improved government action on citizenship and documentation challenges that previously affected members of their community.
Speaking at the launch, Council for Abavandimwe chairperson Frank Gashumba said the mobilisation, branded "Tuzamutora" (loosely translated as “we shall vote for him”), will roll out across Teso, Busoga, Buganda, and Bunyoro regions as the group rallies support for the incumbent president.
Gashumba said recent government interventions easing access to national identity cards and passports for Banyarwanda living in Uganda had motivated the campaign.
“For the last seven years, there were injustices… people were being denied national IDs and passports. After the President learned of these injustices, he issued an executive order. As we speak now, nobody is being discriminated based on his appearance or name,” he said.
He urged university students and young people to prioritise peace and stability as they head into the polls.
“There are over 60 universities in Uganda. Those universities never existed before 1986 because there is peace in this country,” he said.
He warned that instability could reverse the progress made. “If something weird happened and Uganda turned into Somalia or North Sudan, you won’t see those universities,” he said.
Gashumba described Uganda as “the only country in Africa where you can drive border to border and every place is full of peace,” cautioning young supporters against violence.
“Child-run supporters have the right to support their candidate, but they should not get themselves into acts of violence… the moment they do it, the entire security apparatus will pick them,” he said.
He advised students to vote in the morning and stay home until polls close. “On the 15th of January, go and vote. Spend the entire day home. At 5pm go and see how your candidate has performed.”
Youth leader Paul “Ntale” echoed the call for peaceful participation, saying the new slogan Tuzamutora symbolised long-term support for Museveni and gratitude for progress on identity documentation.
He said 80 percent of Banyarwanda who previously struggled to access national IDs and passports have now obtained them following sustained engagement with government.
Ntale said the mobilisation campaign would target Banyarwanda communities nationwide and urged young people to avoid political chaos, tribal rhetoric, or confrontations.
“Please hesitate from joining the chaos, joining the rioters, tribal talks and other stuff… go back home, sit and wait for the results in the evening,” he said.
To address fears of intimidation during the election period, the group announced plans to establish a toll-free election call centre for Banyarwanda voters.
The centre, Ntale said, will be staffed by multilingual volunteers and will coordinate with security agencies.
“In case of any threatening, in case of any violence, they will intervene and help the community,” he said.
Gashumba said the Tuzamutora mobilisation will continue in the weeks leading to voting day, adding that the group remains committed to encouraging peaceful political participation.
“We love Uganda,” Ntale added. “We are mobilising peacefully ahead of polling day.”
The Council for Abavandimwe in Uganda represents the indigenous Banyarwanda community, advocating for equal rights, protection of citizenship, cultural identity, and economic empowerment.
Despite being recognised as Uganda’s 24th tribe under the 1995 Constitution, indigenous Banyarwanda still face discrimination, particularly when securing IDs, passports, and access to essential services, education, healthcare, employment, land ownership, and security sector participation.
Through legal support, policy engagement, and community education, the Council continues to work to ensure all Indigenous Banyarwanda in Uganda are treated with equality, dignity, and respect.
