Kasambya County MP and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Secretary General Daudi Kabanda has weighed in on the rejection of Dr Lawrence Muganga’s nomination for State Minister for Internal Affairs, dismissing claims that ethnicity played a role in the decision.
Kabanda argues that the Appointments Committee’s decision was purely based on questions surrounding Muganga’s citizenship status and not his ethnic background, insisting that narratives linking the outcome to tribal identity are “misleading and dangerous.”
In a detailed statement, Kabanda said the committee’s concerns arose after Muganga allegedly denied holding a Rwandan passport during vetting, only for investigations to later suggest otherwise.
“Mr. Muganga Lawrence was not rejected by the committee for being a Munyarwanda, a narrative I see some people so deceptively selling,” Kabanda stated. “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 further claimed that the committee established that Muganga held multiple passports, which raised legal and procedural questions about eligibility for a sensitive security-related docket.
“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 & dangerous,” he added.
The Appointments Committee’s vetting process, which is mandated to assess the suitability of presidential nominees, reportedly raised concerns over compliance with Uganda’s citizenship laws, which restrict individuals holding dual or multiple citizenships from occupying certain state offices, particularly those linked to national security and internal affairs.
While Muganga had been nominated for the position, the committee is understood to have declined approval pending clarity on his citizenship documentation and renunciation status.
The decision has since triggered debate in political circles, with supporters and critics offering contrasting interpretations of the committee’s findings. Kabanda’s remarks now add to the ongoing discussion, framing the issue as one of legal compliance rather than identity politics.
The vetting outcome remains a subject of public scrutiny as Parliament continues to process remaining cabinet and ministerial nominations.