For the latest arrivals from Planet Mars, here’s what’s trending. The Appointments Committee of Parliament rejected Dr Lawrence Muganga’s (PhD) nomination as Minister of State for Internal Affairs.
The committee argued that his appointment would offend the law on Ugandan citizens with dual citizenship.
Whereas some ministers-designate are said to have had dual citizenship, Dr Muganga’s case is said to have been different: he is said to have held the citizenship of a third country.
Now, according to those who care to know about such things, a bona fide Ugandan citizen is not allowed to hold citizenship of two other countries. In short, triple citizenship is not allowed.
Rejecting the appointment, the committee cited Dr Muganga’s ‘unresolved citizenship concerns’.
And boy, oh boy, that’s how we missed having a minister who openly speaks ‘our language’. Reports from the committee say Dr Muganga denied having held (any) Rwandan passport.
Then the committee asked: When you went to Canada for studies, did you use a Ugandan passport (denoting Ugandan citizenship)? There are media reports from Rwanda depicting you as a Rwandan-Canadian citizen, how do you respond to that? You seem to have held a dual citizenship of Rwanda and Canada, did you not?
The constitutional provision excluding dual citizens from serving as ministers in Uganda is frozen in Article 15(7) of the Constitution.
It states ‘Parliament shall, by law, prescribe the offices of State which a person who holds the citizenship of another country in addition to the citizenship of Uganda is not qualified to hold.’
In pursuit of this constitutional provision, Section 19D of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act and the Fifth Schedule says: a person holding dual citizenship is not qualified to hold the office of ‘Cabinet minister and other ministers.’
This restriction ensures holders of sensitive State offices owe undivided allegiance to Uganda in matters of national governance and security.
The restricted positions include President, vice president, prime minister, Cabinet ministers and other ministers, Inspector General of Government (IGG) and Deputy IGG.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and service commanders of the armed forces. Others are heads and deputy heads of Intelligence and National Security agencies, Commissioner General of Prisons, Inspector General of Police (IGP).
It is my understanding that Ugandans holding dual citizenship must officially renounce their foreign citizenship if they are willing to serve in the positions they are nominated or appointed into.
All ministers-designate (including Dr Muganga) with dual citizenship are said to have shown the committee evidence of their respective renunciation of their dual citizenship status.
However, the problem with Dr Muganga was that he could not clearly explain his citizenship relationship with the Republic of Rwanda.
Yes, I said it. Ugandans should amend the law to accommodate Dr Muganga’s double or triple citizenship. Mbu no ki? Isn’t it how you, Ugandans have been doing stuff? You amended the law (oba Constitution, mwe mumanyi) to increase the number of Cabinet ministers.
And by the way, some clever friend has just told me the ‘first amendment’ of the 1995 Constitution was carried out in order to validate an intended breach. What was the breach?
The President’s proposed Cabinet ministers exceeded the number provided for in the Constitution. The Constitution was amended to accommodate that.
So, I implore those who always generate legislations or constitutional amendments to do the needful in order to accommodate Dr Muganga’s dual or triple citizenships.
Otherwise, the appointing authority could just let him keep the job. The sky will not fall because Dr Muganga (with dual or triple citizenship) is a minister.