The Teso rally marks the beginning of a comprehensive countrywide strategy. Gashumba, alongside his team from the Council for Abavandimwe, announced plans to traverse various regions of Uganda to galvanise support for President Museveni.
TESO, UGANDA – In a significant show of political mobilisation, Frank Gashumba, Chairman of the Council for Abavandimwe, has commenced a nationwide tour urging Ugandans of Rwandan heritage to vote for President Yoweri Museveni in the forthcoming 2026 general elections.
The campaign kick-started in the Teso sub-region, where Gashumba addressed a crowd he numbered in the thousands, rallying them behind the long-serving leader.
The central message of the mobilisation drive hinges on President Museveni's historic decision to formally recognise Ugandans of Rwandan descent, commonly known as Banyarwanda, as full citizens. Gashumba reminded the audience of the presidential directive that allowed them to obtain Ugandan passports and National Identity Cards, a move he described as a foundational act of "freedom" and inclusion.
"The freedom brought by Museveni, who issued the order to consider Banyarwanda in Uganda as Ugandans and be given passports and National IDs, is the reason why we need to support him come 2026," Gashumba declared to cheers from the gathered crowd.
He framed the upcoming election as an opportunity for the community to reciprocate the gesture and secure their place in the nation's political landscape. The message resonates with a community whose citizenship status has been a point of contention and debate in Uganda's history.
The Teso rally marks the beginning of a comprehensive countrywide strategy. Gashumba, alongside his team from the Council for Banyarwanda Abavandimwe, announced plans to traverse various regions of Uganda to galvanise support for President Museveni.
This early mobilisation effort underscores the importance of the Banyarwanda vote as a key demographic bloc, particularly in regions where their population is significant. By tying political support directly to the citizenship rights granted by the current government, the council aims to foster a unified voting pattern within the community.
As the 2026 elections draw closer, such targeted campaigns are expected to intensify, with various groups vying to influence voter sentiment. The Council for Abavandimwe's initiative positions the Banyarwanda community as a potentially decisive force in the political calculations for the next presidential race.
