A major twist has emerged in President Museveni’s new ministerial lineup after Dr. Lawrence Muganga reportedly failed to secure approval from Parliament’s Appointments Committee during his vetting for the position of State Minister for Internal Affairs.
According to information emerging from the committee proceedings, lawmakers were not satisfied with explanations surrounding Muganga’s citizenship status, a matter that has dominated public debate since his nomination. Multiple reports indicate the committee questioned whether he currently holds or previously held citizenship of other countries in addition to Uganda.
Sources familiar with the vetting process say committee members demanded clear evidence regarding the status of his alleged foreign citizenships. The Internal Affairs docket is considered particularly sensitive because it oversees immigration, citizenship administration and national identification matters.
The controversy has been building for days, with petitions and legal challenges filed before Parliament arguing that Uganda’s citizenship laws restrict holders of dual citizenship from occupying certain state offices, including ministerial positions.
Reports from the vetting indicate that Muganga denied claims that he currently holds Rwandan citizenship and acknowledged having held Canadian citizenship alongside Ugandan citizenship. However, committee members were reportedly unconvinced by the evidence presented regarding the renunciation of any other citizenships.
The reported rejection now places his appointment in serious doubt and marks one of the most dramatic developments from the ongoing vetting of President Museveni’s newly appointed ministers.
While some legal experts have argued that the Constitution may permit dual citizens to serve in ministerial positions, others maintain that existing legislation bars holders of multiple citizenships from occupying such offices, creating a legal and political debate that has gripped Kampala in recent days.
As of now, Parliament has not publicly released a detailed official statement explaining the committee’s final position, but reports from inside the process indicate that citizenship concerns were at the heart of the decision.