Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has broken his silence on the rejection of Dr. Lawrence Muganga’s ministerial nomination, defending Parliament’s decision and responding to criticism surrounding the matter.
Speaking during the induction seminar for Members of Parliament of the 12th Parliament, Tayebwa addressed concerns raised after Dr. Muganga questioned why his nomination was turned down by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
Dr. Muganga, the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, was nominated for a ministerial position but failed to secure Parliament’s approval. During the vetting process, concerns were raised over his citizenship status, particularly his dual citizenship involving Uganda and Canada.
The committee also examined disputed claims that he held a Rwandan passport, an issue that became central to the debate.
Tayebwa defended the committee’s decision, emphasizing that Parliament acted within the law and followed the constitutional requirements governing appointments to public office. He stressed that the decision was based on legal considerations rather than personal or ethnic affiliations.
The Deputy Speaker’s remarks come amid continued public debate over Uganda’s citizenship laws, eligibility for public office, and the handling of nominees with multiple nationalities. The discussion has also reignited conversations about ethnic identity, fairness, and the need for consistent application of the law in parliamentary approval processes.
The controversy surrounding Dr. Muganga’s rejected nomination remains one of the most discussed political issues, with many Ugandans calling for greater clarity on citizenship requirements for senior public officials.
