Appointments Committee rejects Dr Muganga over multiple citizenship

The Committee, before meeting the nominee, carried out due diligence and found he holds three citizenships: Uganda, Rwanda and Canada. “We asked him about the issue of multiple citizenship because we found that he holds three citizenship including Rwandan, Canada, and Uganda. He said that he denounced Rwanda when he became a Canadian and the Committee was convinced but failed to convince us with evidence that he denounced the two citizenship,” the source said.

Unlike other minister-designates such as Calvin Echodu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs, and Adonia Ayebare for Foreign Affairs, who presented evidence of renouncing US citizenship, Dr Muganga did not. “The Committee took some good time discussing Adonia’s issue until he presented the evidence that he had started the process then we cleared him. But Muganga failed to convince us with evidence yet he will be holding a sensitive ministry of the Internal Affairs,” the source added.

After presenting his CV, Speaker Oboth asked Dr Muganga about his dual citizenship status. Shortly after the session, Dr Muganga addressed reporters and dismissed claims linking him to Rwandan citizenship. “Before I came here, I definitely had two citizenships—that’s the Ugandan citizenship and the Canadian citizenship. Like every young person who really aspires to do better, you leave this country and you go to different countries, trying to work there, and you get some money, you help your people you left back home. You help your brothers, your sisters, your parents, and even your friends. So, that is me,” he said.

He added: “Many Ugandans do that. And as I speak right now, there are some who are at the airport leaving the country. Before you know it, they will have citizenship of other countries. But that does not take away one’s love for the country. I am Ugandan…Uganda is my country.”

On May 28, city lawyer and Democratic Front Deputy Secretary General Deric Fredric Namakajo petitioned Parliament through the Clerk’s office seeking to block Dr Muganga’s vetting. He accused him of holding Ugandan and Canadian citizenship and cited Section 19D of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Amendment Act, 2009, which bars dual citizens from holding sensitive state offices.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, speaking on behalf of Committee Chairperson Speaker Oboth, said four nominees were found with dual or multiple citizenship during vetting.

“We did a verification with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and we discovered that we had three colleagues who had dual citizenship, and one colleague who had multiple citizenship. So, we have looked at it extensively, and all of them have approved renouncing their citizenship in the other countries,” he said.

“They have taken a patriotic step of choosing Uganda above all. Especially, you know, these are painful decisions that are made. Some of these people have families in those countries. Whatever they have been made in those countries, they send back to Uganda, back to Uganda. But they have taken the painful decision of renouncing their citizenship in other countries. So, we consider that, and we appreciate them for being patriotic,” Tayebwa added.

Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi said the law must be followed. “If somebody has got dual or multiple citizenship, can they first renounce citizenship of the other countries so that the law is followed. If there can be proof that this person has renounced citizenship of these other countries now, they are solely citizens of Uganda then we can discuss other issues,” Ssenyonyi said.