01/11/2025
"When I Was a Ghost in My Own Country"
The Testimony of Kayitale Robert
There was a time I felt like my whole life had completely fallen apart.
I had travelled abroad for work, and life seemed to be moving forward until the day I came home for a short vacation. I was excited to see my family, and I also planned to renew my passport to the new East African one. I never imagined that this visit would change my life forever.
When I went to renew my passport, I was told it couldn’t be processed. To make matters worse, my National ID had been stoplisted from the system without any explanation. Days of travel were fast approaching, but I was stuck, stranded between confusion and disbelief.
Soon, I lost my job abroad because I couldn’t travel back. I tried everything I could, even paying brokers to help me fix the issue, but they took all my money and disappeared. I was left with nothing — no job, no documents, no hope.
I decided to look for a job here at home, but every employer asked for a TIN number, which required a National ID. I was completely locked out of the system. Being a Senior Six dropout and an orphan supporting my younger siblings, my world came crashing down. I watched my brothers and sisters drop out of school because I couldn’t help them anymore.
Life in Kampala became a daily struggle for survival. I did odd jobs, slept hungry at times, and wondered if I would ever be recognized as a Ugandan again.
Then, one day, I heard about the Council for Abavandimwe and Frank Gashumba. Their message spoke directly to my heart. For the first time, I met people who understood my pain, people who gave me hope that I could reclaim my identity. I joined their meetings, listened to their advocacy, and participated in every effort to demand justice and recognition.
And finally, the day we had all prayed for came.
His Excellency President issued Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, affirming the citizenship of all indigenous Banyarwanda born and raised in Uganda.
Those words changed everything.
My name was cleared, the system was updated, and I was among the first people to receive my new passport and renewed my passport. When I held it in my hands, tears rolled down my face. After all the pain, humiliation, and years of feeling invisible, I could finally say: I belong.
Now, even though I don’t have a job yet, I have something more precious my identity. I can walk freely in my country, speak confidently, and dream again.
This is more than a political decision, it is humanity restored.
The President gave us back our dignity, our pride, and our rightful place in the nation we call home.
For that, I will forever be grateful to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for standing with us when others ignored our cries.
When I vote, I will do it with a thankful heart for the man who turned restored our dignity and heritage.
A proud indigenous Munyarwanda, born and raised in Bukomasimbi, Uganda
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Frank M. Gashumba
