Dr Lawrence Muganga (PhD), a State Minister for Internal Affairs-designate, has commenced on the process to renounce his Canadian citizenship after appearing before the Parliament Appointment Committee on June 2, Daily Monitor has learnt.
The Parliament Appointments Committee chaired by Speaker Markson Jacobs Oboth rejected Mr Muganga’s appointment allegedly on grounds of failing to avail evidence that he renounced his multiple citizenships of Canada and Rwanda.
Mr Muganga was not convinced by the decision of the committee, accusing the deputy speaker of Parliament, Mr Thomas Tayebwa of discriminating against him on ethnic basis.
‘We have it ON RECORD – Hon. @Thomas_Tayebwa’s own words: ‘In every vetting session we have to fail someone, and this time it had to be you, Mr Muganga.’ Read that again. This rejection was decided before the process even began. It was never about passports, qualifications, or integrity. It was personal. It was calculated. It was discriminatory. And in due course, we shall release the audio that proves it,’ Mr Muganga posted on his X social media platform.
Dropping dual citizenship
A day before he appeared for vetting, he kick-started the process of renouncing his Canadian citizenship. In a June 1 letter to the Chief Citizenship and Immigration Control Office, Mr Muganga initiated the process of voluntarily renouncing his Canadian citizenship with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
‘This decision has been made freely and deliberately. My intention is to hold a single citizenship, being a Ugandan citizenship, which I hold by right of birth, and which reflects my permanent roots, my national identity, and my enduring commitment to Uganda,’ reads part of the letter.
He further informed the officer that he had formally submitted his renunciation application to IRCC in Canada, in accordance with Section 9 of the Citizenship Act of Canada, which allows an adult refugee who has clocked 18 years of age to freely change their citizenship.
‘Upon approval of my renunciation by the Canadian authorities, I will hold Ugandan citizenship. I will no longer possess or benefit from any dual citizenship status… I am ready to provide any additional documents that may be required, including a certified copy of the IRCC renunciation approval once it is issued,’ the letter adds.
‘I am writing to formally forward the attached Notice of Renunciation of Canadian Citizenship and Retention of Ugandan Citizenship to your office for your consideration. I have been informed that the Canadian Consulate in Uganda is currently closed as a result of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country,’ reads part of the notice.
It adds: ‘As a direct consequence of this closure, I understand that any correspondence or information intended for the Consulate or your office must now be submitted by email. For this reason, I have sent this formal notice to you electronically, and it is attached here for your consideration.
I kindly request that you acknowledge receipt of this email at your earliest convenience.’ Speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday, Dr Muganga said he is a Ugandan by birth.
‘I was born here in Uganda but went to work in Rwanda but some opportunities required me to be a Rwandan. So, I had to get that citizenship. Then when I got further opportunities in Canada, I had to renounce Rwandan citizenship. While I held two citizenships (for Uganda and Canada) but now I only hold one,’ he said.
All the three passports Dr Muganga held, including that of Uganda (expires on February 18, 2031), of Rwanda (expired in 2014), and of Canada (expired in 2019) indicate that he was born on February 14, 1976 in Mukono District, Uganda.
However, in September 10, 2021, while on NTV’s On the spot talk show hosted by Mr Patrick Kamara, Dr Muganga said he was born in Butaleja District, eastern Uganda.
And the next year, his parents returned to their home in Lwabenge in Masaka District where he started school at Kibisi Primary School in 1983.
He also said he had three citizenship (Uganda, Rwanda and Canada). ‘I graduated in Uganda on April 5, 2002. I tried to look for a job in this country – in my country. I couldn’t get a job. I have a sister in Rwanda who called me and said ‘You can get a job in this country. Please, come’.
So, I crossed over and went to Rwanda. I had my passport from Uganda. I went to Rwanda and fortunately, I got a job as an internal auditor in Rwanda Revenue Authority from 2003 to 2005 before getting an opportunity to do a Master’s degree,’ Dr Muganga told Mr Kamara.
‘Before that, keep in mind, everyone, anyone to get and keep in Rwanda, you need to get their national ID, you need to get their passport. And that is what I did through the recommendation of my sister and a person called Nyumba Kumi, who is like an LC 1 of that country. Then I got a national ID and a Rwandan passport,’ he said.
He said he got the Rwanda travel documents and ID because he was desperate to get a job to help his family and parents. In September 2021, Mr Muganga was arrested by operatives of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (which was later renamed Defence Intelligence and Security) at Victoria University over espionage and working in Uganda without a work permit. He was later released.
The then spokesperson of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Mr Jacob Siminyu, said Dr Muganga automatically lost his Ugandan citizenship after he obtained dual or multiple citizenships of other countries without informing Immigration in Uganda.
‘He doesn’t have a certificate [from the Immigration Board] approving him to obtain citizenship elsewhere, therefore he lost his Ugandan citizenship,’ he said then.
Mr Siminyu said any Ugandan who obtains dual or multiple citizenships without getting a certificate of approval from Uganda, is considered to have made false declaration and automatically loses his Ugandan citizenship.
Mr Siminyu said Dr Muganga became a foreigner in Uganda, and had to acquire a work permit to operate or do any work in Uganda.
He said Dr Muganga’s immigration case is still being handled by the relevant authorities.
However, he said if a person, who obtained another citizenship without their approval reports himself or herself to them and seeks remedies, he or she may be helped without any sanctions.