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Mbidde Wants 'Indigenous' Edited from Constitution

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Mbidde Wants 'Indigenous' Edited from Constitution
Mukasa Mbidde

Mr Mbidde, a laywer, advocates for reforms that would recognize all individuals born in Uganda as citizens by birth, challenging the country’s current citizenship provisions, which he argues are outdated and exclusionary.

Democratic Party vice-president Fred Mukasa Mbidde is leading efforts to amend Uganda’s Constitution to broaden citizenship rights.

Mr Mbidde, a laywer, advocates for reforms that would recognize all individuals born in Uganda as citizens by birth, challenging the country’s current citizenship provisions, which he argues are outdated and exclusionary.

Article 10 of Uganda’s Constitution currently restricts full citizenship to “indigenous” groups present by February 1, 1926, effectively excluding certain communities with long-standing ties to Uganda, such as the Banyarwanda, Nubians, and Kenyan descendants.

Mr Mbidde contends that these restrictions have rendered thousands of Ugandans stateless, limiting their access to essential services like education, healthcare, employment, and social benefits.

He estimates that about 4% of Uganda’s population, approximately 1.84 million people, are adversely affected by these restrictive policies, lacking eligibility for national identification and facing social marginalisation.

Mbidde’s proposed amendments aim to align Uganda’s citizenship laws with those of neighboring countries like Kenya and Tanzania, which have recently embraced more inclusive policies.

Both nations have extended citizenship rights to various ethnic communities historically marginalized, including those of Indian, Somali, and Arab descent.

Mr Mbidde argues that Uganda should follow suit to create a more inclusive society, in line with international human rights frameworks.

An action plan for the proposed reforms includes public consultations set to begin on November 2 in Kayunga. Mbidde emphasizes the importance of input from affected communities and the broader public, aiming to draft a law that reflects Uganda’s evolving social landscape.

“We need feedback from all Ugandans—those directly impacted and others—so that we draft a law representing Uganda’s evolving society,” Mbidde explained, stressing the need for both legislative and public support.

For smoother implementation, Mbidde proposes a phased approach to the reforms, prioritizing communities with documented historical presence in Uganda.

He suggests drawing on Uganda’s experience with other phased reforms, such as land ownership policies, to minimize resistance.

“We can achieve this in stages, beginning with communities who have verifiable long-term presence,” he said.

Mbidde is optimistic that these reforms could strengthen Uganda’s national unity by reducing marginalization and granting equal status to all citizens.

“Recognizing everyone who identifies with Uganda is crucial for our national cohesion,” he concluded.

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