Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 838
- 530
A legal challenge has emerged against the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Muganga as State Minister for Internal Affairs after a petition was filed questioning his eligibility based on alleged dual citizenship. The petition was submitted by lawyer and Democratic Front Deputy Secretary General Deric Fredric Namakajo to Parliament, with copies sent to President Yoweri Museveni and Security Minister Jim Muhwezi.
The petitioner argues that Section 19D of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) Act, 2009 bars dual citizens from holding certain state offices, including ministerial positions. He is asking Parliament’s Appointments Committee to suspend Muganga’s vetting until proof is provided that he no longer holds Canadian citizenship. The petition also requests access to citizenship records, passport details, immigration documents, and any renunciation certificates.
At the center of the controversy are reports that Muganga holds both Ugandan and Canadian citizenship. Documents circulating publicly reportedly indicate that he registered for Ugandan citizenship in November 2024 and received a Ugandan passport in February 2026. Muganga has previously worked in Canada, including as a policy advisor in Alberta and with multicultural organizations.
The matter has also revived older debates about Muganga’s nationality. In 2021, he was briefly detained by Ugandan security agencies during a period of strained relations between Uganda and Rwanda over allegations related to his citizenship and immigration status, although he was later released without charge and denied wrongdoing.
However, some legal experts have come to Muganga’s defense. Kampala lawyer Rashid Ssemambo argues that Uganda’s Constitution recognizes dual citizenship and does not explicitly disqualify dual citizens from serving as ministers. According to this view, any statutory restriction that conflicts with constitutional provisions could be challenged as unconstitutional.
The debate is now expected to be settled through Parliament’s vetting process and possibly the courts if the appointment proceeds. The outcome could set an important precedent on how Uganda interprets dual citizenship rules for senior government appointments in the future.
Image Cortesy & Source: Daily Monitor UG
The petitioner argues that Section 19D of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) Act, 2009 bars dual citizens from holding certain state offices, including ministerial positions. He is asking Parliament’s Appointments Committee to suspend Muganga’s vetting until proof is provided that he no longer holds Canadian citizenship. The petition also requests access to citizenship records, passport details, immigration documents, and any renunciation certificates.
At the center of the controversy are reports that Muganga holds both Ugandan and Canadian citizenship. Documents circulating publicly reportedly indicate that he registered for Ugandan citizenship in November 2024 and received a Ugandan passport in February 2026. Muganga has previously worked in Canada, including as a policy advisor in Alberta and with multicultural organizations.
The matter has also revived older debates about Muganga’s nationality. In 2021, he was briefly detained by Ugandan security agencies during a period of strained relations between Uganda and Rwanda over allegations related to his citizenship and immigration status, although he was later released without charge and denied wrongdoing.
However, some legal experts have come to Muganga’s defense. Kampala lawyer Rashid Ssemambo argues that Uganda’s Constitution recognizes dual citizenship and does not explicitly disqualify dual citizens from serving as ministers. According to this view, any statutory restriction that conflicts with constitutional provisions could be challenged as unconstitutional.
The debate is now expected to be settled through Parliament’s vetting process and possibly the courts if the appointment proceeds. The outcome could set an important precedent on how Uganda interprets dual citizenship rules for senior government appointments in the future.
Image Cortesy & Source: Daily Monitor UG
