The Government of Rwanda has officially approved the renunciation of Dr. Lawrence Muganga’s Rwandan citizenship, after he voluntarily relinquished his Rwandan citizenship just to remain a Ugandan.
The development follows controversy that arose during his vetting for the position of Uganda’s State Minister for Internal Affairs, where questions were raised about his citizenship status.
Dr. Muganga, a Uganda-born academic, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, and Canadian citizen, had been nominated by President Yoweri Museveni for the ministerial post.
However, Parliament declined to approve his appointment after determining that he had not provided sufficient proof that he had renounced all foreign citizenships as required under Uganda’s constitutional and legal provisions governing Cabinet appointments.
The latest decision by the Rwandan government confirms that Dr. Muganga previously held Rwandan citizenship in addition to his Canadian nationality.
Following Parliament’s decision, President Museveni appointed Hon. Juma Witonze Kisekka as the new State Minister for Internal Affairs.
The citizenship controversy also reignited debate over how Dr. Muganga acquired Ugandan citizenship.
During a recent interview, former Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire said he supported Muganga’s application because of his contribution to Uganda’s education sector.
“I gave him citizenship, but I wasn’t the one who appointed him as a minister. I helped because they found him useful for the country,” Otafiire said.
He further explained that Dr. Muganga initially worked in Uganda under a work permit before later acquiring Ugandan citizenship.
The controversy has also raised questions about how Dr. Muganga obtained a Ugandan diplomatic passport.
