Citizenship Questions Surround Four Ministers as New Ugandan Cabinet Is Sworn In

Concerns over citizenship status have emerged involving four ministers in Uganda’s new Cabinet as President Yoweri Museveni’s government prepares for the official swearing-in ceremony today.

According to reports, the Ministry of Internal Affairs flagged questions relating to dual or multiple citizenship for several minister-designates, raising constitutional compliance issues ahead of their assumption of office.

The affected officials include Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Shartsi Musherure, Calvin Echodu, and Dr Lawrence Muganga. Immigration records indicate that some of them hold dual citizenship, including combinations of Ugandan and foreign nationalities such as American, Canadian, and Rwandan citizenship.

Under Uganda’s citizenship laws, certain public offices, including Cabinet positions, are restricted for individuals holding dual citizenship unless they have fully renounced foreign nationality. This has triggered renewed scrutiny from Parliament’s Appointments Committee, which is responsible for vetting presidential nominees before approval.

Despite the concerns, most of the nominees have already been cleared to take their oath of office, with only a few cases still under review. The Cabinet is expected to comprise the Vice President, Prime Minister, 30 Cabinet ministers, and 51 state ministers.

Officials familiar with the vetting process say that documentation submitted by some nominees indicates ongoing efforts to renounce foreign citizenship, while others maintain they meet eligibility requirements under Ugandan law.

The development has sparked debate over legal interpretation, eligibility standards, and the enforcement of constitutional provisions on leadership in Uganda’s executive branch.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to proceed today at State House Entebbe, though questions remain over whether all flagged individuals will be included in the final list of those taking the oath.

Source BBC