Muganga Alleges Bias and Discrimination in Ministerial Vetting Process

Minister-designate for Internal Affairs, Lawrence Muganga, has strongly criticized the manner in which his vetting was conducted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, alleging bias, discrimination, and political interference in the process.

In a statement issued following his appearance before the committee, Muganga dismissed claims that he holds dual citizenship with Rwanda, describing the allegations as false and politically motivated. His response followed comments made by Daudi Kabanda and growing public debate surrounding his vetting.

Muganga also raised allegations against Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who chairs the Appointments Committee. He claimed to possess an audio recording that he says proves the outcome of the vetting process had been predetermined before he appeared before the committee.

According to Muganga, the alleged recording indicates that committee members had agreed in advance that one nominee would not be approved and that he had been singled out for that outcome.

He maintained that the decision was not based on issues of citizenship, competence, or integrity, but rather on personal and discriminatory grounds.

Muganga further stated that he plans to make the alleged audio recording public.

The minister-designate argued that his treatment during the vetting process amounted to discrimination because of his identity as a Munyarwanda.

He emphasized that the Banyarwanda are a constitutionally recognized indigenous community in Uganda and should not face unequal treatment.

Defending his professional record, Muganga said he has served Uganda and various international institutions for decades, working in numerous countries without experiencing the level of hostility he claims to have encountered during the vetting process.

He also urged the public and the media to seek perspectives from other members of the Appointments Committee, including opposition legislators who were present during the proceedings.

Muganga questioned whether opposition to his appointment may have been influenced by factors beyond the issues raised during the vetting, suggesting that his anticipated leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs could have unsettled some political actors.

He concluded by calling for equal treatment of all Ugandan citizens and cautioned against what he described as the selective application of laws against certain communities.

The allegations have introduced a new dimension to the debate surrounding the ministerial approval process and are likely to intensify discussions on identity, citizenship, and transparency in public appointments.

By the time of publication, neither Parliament nor Tayebwa had publicly responded to the specific claims made by Muganga, including the alleged existence of audio recordings related to the vetting process.

The controversy comes amid continued scrutiny of Cabinet appointments and is expected to remain a subject of public and political attention as Parliament continues its consideration of presidential nominees.