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The Rwandan Community in Uganda Association (RUCA) represents an estimated population of several hundred thousand people who identify as both Rwandan and Ugandan due to their family history. Many were born in Uganda to parents or grandparents who came from Rwanda in previous decades.
However, under Ugandan law they are still classified as foreign nationals rather than citizens despite establishing lives and families in the country for extended periods of time in some cases.
RUCA chairman Donat Kananura says this marginalizes the community and prevents them from accessing certain social services, business opportunities, and political participation that citizenship would provide.
“We are asking the government to recognize our people as Ugandan through a formal naturalization process. Having lived here for so long yet still being seen as outsiders is discriminatory and denies our deep connection to this land,” said Ngoga.
The group plans to petition parliament and engage in civic education campaigns to raise awareness of their situation and push for legislative reform.
However, the issue of nationality and naturalization is complex with concerns about maintaining control over borders and national identity.
However Ugandan officials have not publicly commented on RUCA’s demands so far. As discussions continue, both sides will need to find an equitable solution that upholds the rights of long-term residents while respecting the prerogatives of sovereignty.
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg)