Lawrence Muganga has broken his silence following the rejection of his appointment as State Minister for Internal Affairs, accusing Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa of conducting a biased and malicious campaign against him during his appearance before Parliament's Appointments Committee.
In an exclusive interview, Muganga dismissed claims that he holds three passports, insisting that the allegations presented before the committee were false and intended to portray him as a foreigner.
"I want to set it straight. I do not hold three passports as has been claimed. There has never been a time in my life when I possessed three passports at the same time. What has been said about me is false," Muganga said.
The Victoria University Vice Chancellor said he entered the vetting room confident that he had adequately explained his citizenship history and professional record, only to find what he described as a predetermined effort to block his approval.
According to Muganga, several members of the committee initially appeared impressed by his presentation and contribution to Uganda's education sector.
"One member from Entebbe spoke highly of my work and requested colleagues to support me. Even members from the opposition credited my contribution. I believed I had addressed all the concerns," he said.
However, Muganga alleges that the atmosphere changed dramatically when Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa introduced claims that he possessed three citizenships.
"At some point, I saw the Deputy Speaker lean toward the Speaker, pull out a file and begin cross-examining me. He painted a picture that I had three passports. It was very malicious. Other members were uncomfortable and wondered where this information had come from," Muganga said.
He claims he was never given an opportunity to examine or respond adequately to the documents being referenced.
"No member had the report that Tayebwa had. He never gave me a copy. I was denied a fair opportunity to defend myself."
Muganga further accused Tayebwa of attempting to link him to the Rwandan government because of his ethnic background.
"He was doing his best to tie me to Rwanda. I felt targeted because I am a Munyarwanda. Being Munyarwanda should not be treated as a crime."
The educationist maintained that while he is proud of his heritage, he is a Ugandan citizen who has consistently served the country.
"I am a Munyarwanda and I do not apologize for that. But I am also a Ugandan who loves this country and has dedicated his work to its development."
Muganga acknowledged that he previously held Ugandan and Canadian citizenship but strongly denied ever holding Rwandan citizenship concurrently.
"I had Ugandan and Canadian citizenship. If anyone says I have a Rwandan passport, let them go and verify with the Government of Rwanda. I do not have one."
In one of his most explosive claims, Muganga alleged that Tayebwa later telephoned him after the vetting process and appeared apologetic.
"Before I even reached home, he called me. He told me my case was complicated and said that usually they have to sacrifice someone during the vetting process and this time it had to be me. That statement was very painful," Muganga claimed.
He described the experience as discriminatory and warned against tribal politics.
"We should not discriminate against one another because of tribe, ethnicity or where we come from. We should be blind when it comes to tribes and colour."
Muganga nevertheless expressed gratitude to President Museveni for considering him for the ministerial position, saying he remains ready to serve Uganda in whatever capacity he is called upon.
"I am grateful to the appointing authority because he understands who I am. I have always served my country wherever I have been."
Committee Position
Muganga's account differs sharply from the position communicated by Parliament following the vetting exercise.
Speaking to journalists after the Appointments Committee concluded its work, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said the committee had discovered several nominees with dual or multiple citizenships during verification exercises conducted with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Tayebwa said three nominees with dual citizenship had undertaken to renounce their foreign citizenships and were approved after making that commitment. He described their decisions as patriotic and difficult, given that some had families and established lives abroad.
However, Muganga's nomination was among those that ran into difficulties over citizenship questions. Reports from the vetting process indicate that committee members remained unconvinced regarding his citizenship status and the legal implications surrounding his eligibility for the position.
The matter now places fresh attention on Uganda's citizenship laws, the vetting process for public officials, and allegations of ethnic profiling within high-level government appointments.
Whether Muganga's claims will trigger a formal response from Parliament or the Deputy Speaker remains to be seen.
