Journalist Andrew Irumba has offered a strongly worded reflection on Dr Lawrence Muganga’s emotional visit to his parents’ graves in Mukono, following his rejection for appointment as State Minister for Internal Affairs over citizenship-related concerns.
Dr Muganga visited his family burial site in Seeta, Mukono District shortly after Parliament’s Appointments Committee declined to approve his nomination, citing questions linked to his citizenship documentation and alleged dual nationality status.
The decision has since triggered heated public debate, with opinions sharply divided across political and social platforms.
During the visit, Muganga was reported to have become emotional at his mother’s grave, reiterating that he was born in Uganda, raised in the country, and considers it his permanent home.
He also noted that his parents are buried in Uganda and expressed that he expects to be buried there as well, remarks widely seen as a response to scrutiny surrounding his eligibility for the ministerial post.
The development has fueled intense online discussions, with sections of the public questioning his eligibility while others defend his right to serve, arguing that citizenship disputes should not overshadow his professional record.
Reacting to the incident, journalist Andrew Rimba said the episode had exposed deeper societal divisions and raised uncomfortable questions about belonging and identity.
“I speak what others fear,” Rimba said, describing Muganga’s emotional moment at the gravesite as significant and troubling in equal measure.
“When you see a man of Dr. Lawrence Muganga’s calibre crying on the graves of his parents in Uganda, and then see the kind of debate on socials by those supposed to be his own brothers and sisters, you wonder.”
Rimba further argued that the debate reflects broader African challenges around unity and exclusion, noting that similar tensions are visible across the continent. He warned against rising hostility rooted in identity politics.
“Black against Black. This is the same thing we are still fighting across Africa,” he said, drawing parallels with continental conversations on nationality and belonging.
He also cautioned that today’s public reactions may have long-term consequences. “The seeds you are planting today will be reaped by your own children someday,” he added, urging restraint in public discourse.
Rimba further observed that public attitudes often shift over time, with individuals who are now criticised sometimes later embraced in different circumstances.
The remarks come at a time when Dr Muganga’s ministerial fate remains uncertain, as political and public debates continue to unfold over citizenship, identity, and eligibility for high office in Uganda.