Kampala, Uganda | Daudi Kabanda, the Kasambya County Member of Parliament and Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), has said that Dr. Lawrence Muganga’s rejection by Parliament’s Appointments Committee was linked to citizenship concerns, not his ethnic background.
Kabanda said Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr. Lawrence Muganga was not rejected by Parliament’s Appointments Committee for being a Munyarwanda, as some social media users have alleged.
According to Kabanda, Dr. Muganga was rejected for the position of State Minister for Internal Affairs after it was found that he held three passports. The passports in question are from Uganda, Canada, and Rwanda.
“Mr. Muganga Lawrence was not rejected by the committee for being a Munyarwanda, a narrative I see some people so deceptively selling. We have other leaders who are Banyarwanda who were approved and have been approved in the past. Hon. Aisha Ssekindi and Dianah Mutasingwa were approved, yet they are Banyarwanda but Ugandan citizens,” Kabanda posted on X.
“Muganga was not approved after he denied holding a Rwandan passport, but the committee investigations confirmed he holds three passports: Ugandan, Canadian, and Rwandan. Why was he denying it? Therefore, the claim that he was rejected because of being a Munyarwanda is totally false, misleading, and dangerous.”
Some observers claimed Kabanda could be pushing a false narrative because of his differences with Frank Gashumba, an associate of Dr Muganga.
Gashumba, the chairman of the Abavandimwe Council, has blamed Muganga’s rejection on Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
According to Gashumba, when questions emerged about Muganga’s citizenship, he took steps to comply with the law by renouncing his Canadian citizenship.
He said the vetting process proceeded smoothly until Tayebwa alleged that Muganga held a third citizenship in Rwanda.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the vetting session, Muganga acknowledged holding Ugandan and Canadian citizenship but denied claims that he was a citizen of Rwanda.
Gashumba argued that Muganga had been treated differently from other appointees.
However, Nathan Tumusiime, in his response, said if Muganga lied to the committee, he should face the consequences.
He said ethnic arguments should be discouraged if the committee’s work is to be respected.
“Should the committee also be criticized for rejecting the First Lady’s request to appear before it on Zoom?” Tumusiime asked.
President Yoweri Museveni had nominated Dr. Muganga to replace David Muhoozi and serve under Ephraim Kamuntu as State Minister for Internal Affairs.