TAKEAWAYS

• Gashumba condemned Bafana’s remarks as sectarian and dangerous.
• The comments stem from Bafana’s feud with Eddy Kenzo.
• Gashumba defended Banyarwanda as a permanent and significant part of Uganda’s population.

Social-political commentator Frank Gashumba has issued a stern warning to dancehall singer Ziza Bafana, urging him to be mindful of his public statements following controversial remarks targeting the Banyarwanda community.

Gashumba’s comments come in response to Bafana’s recent outburst, in which the “Pomini” singer suggested that Banyarwanda should be “sent back to Rwanda,” claiming that Ugandans were fed up with them. The remarks stemmed from Bafana’s ongoing feud with Eddy Kenzo, the president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation.

Kenzo, whose father Chefe Ali is of Rwandan descent, has been at the center of the dispute. Bafana’s statements were widely criticized as sectarian and tribalistic, sparking backlash across social and political circles.

“Be careful with your words. They carry weight and can affect millions of people beyond your personal battles,” Gashumba cautioned.

“An attack on Kenzo is an attack on over 13 million Banyarwanda living in Uganda,” he added.

Gashumba emphasized that Banyarwanda, also known as “Abavandimwe,” are an integral part of Uganda’s social fabric, noting that their ancestors settled in the country generations ago. He dismissed any notion of expelling them, comparing their presence to that of Black Americans in the United States or white South Africans in South Africa.

He also questioned Bafana’s stance, pointing out reports that the singer is married to a Munyarwanda, making his comments even more contradictory.

Beyond the controversy, Gashumba took the opportunity to clarify his political stance, denying allegations of being a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement. While he was seen at rallies for Yoweri Museveni, he explained that his presence was in appreciation of an executive order that protected the Banyarwanda community from harassment.