Rubanda District Boss Rallies Voters Against Politics of Identity.

The Rubanda District LC.5 Chairperson Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba has called on voters to shun Politicians who seek to divide them through politics of identity.

Mr. Kasyaba made the call during a thanksgiving ceremony at Mugyera Catholic Church located in Habuhutu Town Council, Rubanda District. 

His statements were in reaction to the speech made by Former Rubanda District Youths Councilor Ronald Niwagaba asked people of Greater Bufundi Subcounty to vote for one Julius Buzaale for LC.5 Chairperson in the 2026 elections because he (Buzaale) is born in the neighbourhood.

“We have been supporting those from the East, and it is time we supported our own(from the West) ,” Niwagaba said.

However, Chairman Kasyaba blasted the youth leader for attempting to divide the populace by promoting politics of identity.

“When you are aspiring to be the LC.5 Chairperson, you seek for support from all people in the District, and not a single sub county where you are born,” Kasyaba said, and added that “if you only want people from one subcounty to vote for you, then you should stand for LC.3 Chairperson.”

Kasyaba further noted that if politicians argue that people should elect them because they come from the same villages or subcounties, it implies that they don’t need support from other slubcounties; which breeds divisionism.

He said that such kind of political campaigning is only done by candidates who have no manifestos.

Kasyaba’s statements were echoed by the Rubanda District Inspector of Schools Francis Bamunyangira who said that politicians who use divisive language should be condemned in the strongest terms possible.

“If you ask people to vote according to their geographical locations, religion, tribes and other forms of identities, you not only cause divisions but also undermine the democratic means of electing good leaders, and therefore sabotaging development” Bamunyangira said.

In his homily, Rev. Fr. Andrew Tumukurate from Kishanje Catholic Parish also asked voters to elect result oriented people into political offices, ahead of the 2025/2026 elections. He also advised the voters to take time and listen to what everyone is saying and compare their utterances to what they are doing in the community before choosing whether to vote for them or not.