KAMPALA — Social commentator Frank Gashumba and Banyanyarwanda Community leader Frank Gashumba has sparked heated national debate after warning that Uganda could face an “M23-style” scenario if long-standing grievances involving the Banyarwanda community are not properly addressed.
In a video circulating widely on social media, Gashumba is heard arguing that unresolved issues affecting the Banyarwanda community could escalate into instability, cautioning that Uganda should “prepare for M23 in Uganda” if the situation is ignored.
The remarks have triggered mixed reactions, with supporters interpreting them as a warning to policymakers about the consequences of unresolved citizenship and identity grievances, while critics argue that referencing armed rebellion risks inflaming ethnic and political tensions.
Gashumba, who has long positioned himself as an advocate for the rights of Ugandans of Rwandan descent, has frequently raised concerns about citizenship recognition, access to national identity documents, and alleged discrimination faced by some members of the community.
Gashumba is a key leader in the Council for Abavandimwe where he serves as Chairman of the organization. The council is an umbrella body advocating for the rights and recognition of Ugandans of Rwandan descent, commonly referred to as the Banyarwanda community. In this role, Gashumba has been at the forefront of mobilization efforts, public advocacy, and engagement with government institutions on citizenship and identity issues.
M23 rebel group
The M23 (March 23 Movement) is an armed rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It was formed in 2012 following a mutiny of former soldiers who claimed the DR Congo government had failed to fully implement the March 23, 2009 peace agreement, from which the group takes its name.
The group was militarily defeated in 2013 but later re-emerged around 2021, regaining territory in North Kivu and surrounding areas. Since its resurgence, M23 has become one of the most powerful armed groups in the region, contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement and ongoing insecurity.
M23 has said it fights to protect certain communities and address political grievances in eastern Congo. However, international reports, including United Nations investigations, have accused the group of human rights abuses, forced recruitment, and involvement in illegal exploitation of mineral resources that fuel conflict in the region.
The group’s resurgence has also drawn regional attention due to allegations of external backing and wider instability in the Great Lakes region. The conflict remains one of Africa’s most sensitive and complex security crises.
Back to the debate
VIDEO: Frank Gashumba warns of M23 in Uganda if Banyarwanda issues are not resolved. #PearlTimesNews #banyarwanda pic.twitter.com/hDuTBxCieb
— The Pearl Times (@thepearltimes) June 6, 2026
By invoking M23, Gashumba risks escalating already sensitive discussions around ethnicity and citizenship in Uganda, with the comparisons having potential to deepen mistrust between communities and distract from legal and institutional solutions.
The Banyarwanda issue was reignited by the rejection, by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, of Dr Lawrence Muganga as the state minister of internal affairs.
Muganga has accused Thomas Tayebwa of failing him, and even took the battle to save his ‘job’ to his mother’s grave. (See Details Here and There).
It should be remembered that even if President Museveni has previously claimed that many people in central Uganda who claim to be Baganda are Banyarwanda, he has also told Banyarwanda to choose between Uganda and Rwanda, as reported Here and There.
Last year, Museveni issued 15 directives on the issue of Banyarwanda citizenship in Uganda, after many years of what was interpreted by some as suspicion against Banyarwanda in security and immigration circles. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
