Multiracial Ugandans in Uganda

History

Ugandan-Europeans (Afro-Europeans)

Since colonialism, mixed race people in Uganda have existed as a "product of Colonial history and are indeed considered as having a peculiar historical identity in terms of color and ethnic origin by other Ugandans" ([1] pg 8); indeed, the topic has lately become one that is openly discussed.[1]

The product of colonial history saw the emergence of a new identity of Ugandans (in terms of color and multi-ethnic origin). Most interracial relationships occurred between male European explorers and local black African women. [2] It was seen and known but not openly talked about or acknowledged.

Mixed race relationships were excluded in open discourse during colonial times because they were considered, by traditionalists, as a violation of societal boundaries. To some academicians, the multiracial people that emerged from that era symbolized two aspects: a liberation from the “authority of tradition” and a departure of a status quo depiction of culture [3]

Ugandan-Arabs (Afro-Arabs)

Prior and during colonialism, Arabs played a pivotal role in the East African slave trade. Numerous East Africans were sold as slaves to the regions of the Middle East and beyond via the Sahara desert and Indian Ocean. Many interracial relationships between (mostly) male Arab traders and black African women occurred. These unions gave rise to Ugandan-Arabs. Unlike the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, most of the slaves in the East African slave trade were women. Most of the women were sold as sex slaves, while some were taken as wives.[4][5]

Ugandan-Indians (Afro-Indians)

During the construction of the East African/Uganda railway, the British Empire brought many Indian workers into East Africa for labor. The influx of Indians throughout Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other neighboring countries contributed to numerous Ugandan-Indian unions in Uganda--especially in small towns located along the Railway. Traders--who were mostly Indian and male--married local Ugandan women, thus birthing a visible emergence of mixed Ugandan-Indian people. [6]

Demographics

The number of multiracial Ugandans in Uganda, is not known or tracked.

The "one-drop rule,"[7][8] derived from the Southern slave culture, in the Western Hemisphere, does not apply to multiracial Ugandans living in Uganda. Thus, mixed-race descendants of blacks and non-blacks in Uganda, like the mixed race people of Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and other Latin American nations, are not considered black. They are described by their skin tone and nationality, and racially identified as belonging to another race other than black. Typically, people of brown and/or lighter skin tone would be called Mzungu by the local people.[9]

Social status

Discrimination

In the past and most recently, multiracial Ugandans in Uganda have expressed grievances of not being recognized as true Ugandan citizens and were denied or delayed in getting benefits (considered as basic rights), such as obtaining a National ID card or passport.[10][11] This prompted President Yoweri Museveni,[12] in 2016, following a meeting with a group of mixed race Ugandans, to openly proclaim that mixed racial people were to be treated as true Ugandans, per the established 1995 Constitution.[13]

Citizenship defined

Of note, citizenship in Uganda is open to the following (per the mandates of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration):[14]

(i) Every person born in Uganda, one of whose parents or grandparents is or was a member of any of the indigenous communities existing and residing within the borders of Uganda as at the first day of February, 1926 and set out in the third schedule of the constitution. (article10 a of the constitution) (ii) Every person born in or outside Uganda one of whose parents or grandparents was at the time of birth of that person, a citizen of Uganda by birth (iii) A child of not more than five years of age found in Uganda whose parents are not known is presumed to be Ugandan (iv) A child under the age of eighteen years neither of whose parents is a citizen of Uganda, who is adopted by a citizen of Uganda upon registration shall be a citizen of Uganda (v)  A person who successfully applies for and is registered as a citizen of Uganda.

The government of Uganda has had to notify various institutions that multiracial Ugandans are citizens of Uganda--as the Omari case demonstrated.[11]

Media and Coverage

Politics

A landmark case,[11][1] involving one Yasin Omari, of mixed Ugandan-Asian heritage, illustrated how, on various occasions, he and many people of mixed race were "subjected to discrimination by ministry officials during the process of registration, renewal of passports and National ID [cards], hence violating their rights to citizenship."

People of mixed race were also, reportedly, denied access to political appointments.[10][11][1]

This case led to The Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) tribunal in Uganda ordering the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give national ID cards and passports to multiracial persons—and directing all government components to treat all Ugandans equally without regard to color or racial heritage in the processing of citizenship benefits.[10][11][1]

Terminology

People of mixed or multiracial heritages in Uganda are commonly referred to as Half-castes (a term not regarded as derogatory or racist in nature) or chotara (singular in Swahili), wachotara (plural in Swahili).[10] [15]

The topic of mixed race Ugandans continues to resurface, in the public arena, with the growing number of Chinese men marrying Ugandan women, in some cases attributable to sham marriages with an opportunity to obtain immigration benefits.[16]

One noted trend is the reported growing number of Ugandan women that were left behind with children fathered by Chinese men.[17][18]

References
  1. "Equal Opportunities Commission, Omar vs AG. Before Hon. Joel Cox Ojuko. RULING" (PDF). Equal Opportunities Commission Publication. Retrieved 17 Jul 2020.
  2. Ehud R. Toledano (1998). Slavery and abolition in the Ottoman Middle East. University of Washington Press. pp. 13–4. ISBN 978-0-295-97642-6.
  3. Ojwang, Dan (27 March 2009). "The half-caste and the dream of secularism and freedom: Insights from East African Asian writing". Scrutiny2. 13 (2): 16–35. doi:10.1080/18125440802485987. S2CID 144340777.
  4. Ehud R. Toledano (1998). Slavery and abolition in the Ottoman Middle East. University of Washington Press. pp. 13–4. ISBN 978-0-295-97642-6.
  5. "East Africa's forgotten slave trade". AFRICAN HISTORY. Retrieved 17 Jul 2020.
  6. Jotawa: Afro-Asians in East Africa". Color Q World. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  7. Dworkin, Kari, L (18 October 2009). "Race, Sexuality, and the "One Drop Rule": More Thoughts about Interracial Couples and Marriage". The Society Pages.
  8. Davis, F. James. "Who is Black? One Nation's Definition". Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  9. "In Search Of Black Identity In Uganda". Matador Network. 24 Aug 2011.
  10. "Ministry ordered to issue National IDs to multiracial persons". New Vision. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. "Uganda: Yasin Omar vs. Attorney General". Citizenship Rights In Africa Initiative. 29 September 2017.
  12. "Yoweri K. Museveni, President of Uganda". Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. "Uganda: Multi-Racial Tribe To Get Citizenship, President Assures". The African Exponent. 11 Feb 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. "Ugandan Citizenship". Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration, Ministry of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. "Chotara". Swahili - English Dictionary.
  16. "Uganda is worried about the number of Chinese men marrying their women". Quartz Africa. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  17. "Pregnant Ugandan women abandoned by Chinese expatriates they love". The Washington Times. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  18. "Ugandan women stranded with babies fathered by Chinese". Daily Nation. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
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