Francis Dusabe 2. Rwandan Nationality in a Historical Perspective 2.1. The pre-independence era Rwandan nationality is a result of history and political realities.4 Rwanda is one of the few countries in Africa that were historical polities. Its current territory is smaller than that of the old kingdom of Rwanda and this continues to shape perceptions and debates on Rwandan nationality today. The name Rwanda means expanded land. This name emanates from its history of conquests and land annexation under the leadership of the Mwami, or king, who was the supreme authority in the land. The Mwami implemented a feudal system in which his subjects were considered owners of Rwandan land and so Rwandans.5 During the rule of the king, Rwanda expanded up to three times its current size,6 making the populations of the defeated territories part of the Rwandan people. Research reveals that these annexations had reached north to Lake Albert, located hundreds of kilometres inside today’s Uganda; west to the region of Rutshuru, hundreds of kilometres inside today’s Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and south to encompass a large part of Kagera Province in today’s United Republic of Tanzania.7 The ultimate stage of territorial expansion and consolidation was achieved in the second half of the nineteenth century in the reign of Mwami Kigeri Rwabugiri.8 This period saw hundreds of Rwandans migrating to neighbouring countries in search of greener pastures or work, while foreigners from Burundi and the DRC, together with traders from Asian countries like India, Oman and Lebanon, poured in to settle in Rwanda and have never returned to their home countries. Like all the other African territories, Rwanda’s current boundaries were demarcated following the 1884-1885 Berlin conference. At the end of this conference, Rwanda became a German colony. In 1910, the colonial powers in the region, namely the Belgians, the British and the Germans, agreed to adjust the boundaries between Rwanda, Uganda and the Belgian Congo, resulting in the present borders of these states. Following these changes, thousands of people who had become Rwandans as a result of previous annexations were removed from Rwandan jurisdiction and became citizens of neighbouring colonies. The majority of these people are located in southwestern Uganda (also known as the Bufumbira),9 eastern DRC and north-western Tanzania.10 4 Mamdani, M. (1984: 1049). Muzungu, B (2003: 4). 6 See Newbury, D. (1994: 202). 7 See Newbury, D (1978:141). See also Twagirimana, A (2007:76). In particular, see the conquest of Bunyabungo [currently in the Democratic republic of Congo’s South Kivu] in which King Ruganzu II Ndoli waged a war to revenge his father, Ndahiro Cyamatare, by killing everyone, looting the cows and taking over the wives to ensure that this kingdom would never exist again. 8 Mushemeza, E, (2003:83). 9 Adejunmobi, M and Coetzee, C (2019: 134); See also Tabaro, P “Tracing incorporation of Bufumbira into Uganda British protectorate,’ The Observer 11 January 2016, available at https://observer.ug/viewpoint/42008tracing-incorporation-of-bufumbira-into-uganda-british-protectorate [accessed 21/3/2020] 10 Rockel, S (2019: 243). See also Vansina, J (2004: 156). 5 2 RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/10- © 2020 Author(s)