“I am a Rwandan by heritage, born in Uganda and a full Ugandan citizen,” Muganga stated, adding that he neither possesses a Rwandan passport nor holds citizenship of Rwanda.
Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr. Lawrence Muganga has renewed his defense against allegations surrounding his citizenship status, insisting that claims linking him to Rwanda were not the reason Parliament rejected his nomination for a ministerial position.
In a statement shared on his X account, Muganga alleged that his failure to secure approval as State Minister for Internal Affairs was the result of a deliberate political scheme orchestrated by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa.
According to Muganga, Tayebwa personally informed him that when there is a need to sacrifice one of the President’s ministerial appointees, someone must bear the consequences, and that he had been selected as the target.
Muganga claimed that the Deputy Speaker did not act through intermediaries but communicated the matter directly to him. However, Tayebwa has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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The Victoria University boss also used the statement to address persistent claims regarding his nationality. He maintained that he is a Ugandan citizen who was born in Uganda and belongs to the Banyarwanda ethnic community, but does not hold Rwandan citizenship.
“I am a Rwandan by heritage, born in Uganda and a full Ugandan citizen,” Muganga stated, adding that he neither possesses a Rwandan passport nor holds citizenship of Rwanda.
His remarks come amid continued debate over the circumstances surrounding his rejection by Parliament’s Appointments Committee. Muganga was among several nominees vetted on May 2 following President Yoweri Museveni’s appointment of a new Cabinet for the 2026–2031 term.
Reports indicate that the committee declined to approve his appointment on grounds related to Uganda’s Citizenship and Immigration Act, which restricts dual citizens from occupying positions listed under the Fifth Schedule of the law. The restricted offices include the Presidency, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State.
Muganga has acknowledged that he previously held both Ugandan and Canadian citizenship. During the vetting process, he reportedly offered to renounce his Canadian citizenship if required, while firmly rejecting allegations that he is a Rwandan national.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the committee, Muganga said his ethnic identity should not be confused with nationality.
“Ndi Munyarwanda and Banyarwanda are among the tribes in Uganda. That is a simple fact. I’m not Rwandan. Before I came here, I had two citizenships — the Ugandan and the Canadian citizenship,” he said.
Questions about Muganga’s nationality have persisted partly due to his previous employment with the Rwanda Revenue Authority. In addition, he was arrested by Ugandan immigration authorities in 2021 over allegations of overstaying and espionage during a period of strained diplomatic relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
As debate over his rejected nomination continues, Muganga maintains that political considerations, rather than citizenship concerns, were the decisive factor behind Parliament’s decision.
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