As debate over the citizenship status of the Banyarwanda community in Uganda continues to attract controversy, renowned Kenyan human rights scholar and legal expert Prof, who also doubles as the Director for Centre for Human Rights, prof. Morris Kiwinda Mbondenyi has publicly backed veteran lawyer and politician Mukasa Fred Mbidde (Vice president of the Democratic Party, Uganda’s oldest political party) describing his efforts as a legitimate and necessary fight for justice and recognition.
Mbondenyi, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, author, legal scholar and former Deputy Director of the Kenya School of Law, says concerns raised by Mbidde regarding the citizenship status of sections of the Banyarwanda community deserve serious national attention rather than personal attacks and ridicule.
His intervention is likely to strengthen Mbidde’s position in a debate that has attracted sharp criticism from some quarters, with the former East African Legislative Assembly lawmaker emerging as one of the most vocal advocates for addressing what he views as lingering citizenship challenges facing members of the Banyarwanda community in Uganda.
“The concerns raised regarding the status of the Banyarwanda as stateless warrant serious consideration,” Mbondenyi said, arguing that the matter should be approached with empathy, constitutional honesty and a commitment to finding lasting solutions.
The respected Kenyan academic, who says he first interacted with Mbidde at the Mandela Institute of Law in South Africa in 2013, described the DP leader as highly intelligent and deeply knowledgeable on legal and human rights matters.
“I found him quite intelligible,” Mbondenyi noted, adding that Mbidde’s credentials and expertise are publicly known and should not be subjected to unfounded criticism.
According to Mbondenyi, the historical presence of Banyarwanda in Uganda is well documented, yet questions surrounding citizenship and recognition continue to affect many members of the community.
He argued that Uganda’s constitutional provisions on citizenship and indigenous communities require careful interpretation and open-minded discussion if lasting solutions are to be found.
In his view, Mbidde has become a key voice for a community seeking recognition and equal treatment under the law.
“Dr. Mbidde represents not merely a single voice, but a collective struggle for recognition and rights that must be taken into account,” Mbondenyi said.
He further urged leaders and stakeholders to move away from divisive rhetoric and instead engage in constructive dialogue aimed at resolving ambiguities surrounding citizenship laws.
The endorsement from one of East Africa’s most respected legal scholars is likely to be viewed as a significant boost for Mbidde, whose campaign for clarity on the citizenship status of Banyarwanda has increasingly become part of a wider national conversation about identity, belonging and constitutional rights in Uganda.
