Muganga Renounces Rwandan Citizenship

KAMPALA, UGANDA | UG DIPLOMAT REPORTER

Dr Lawrence Muganga has formally renounced his Rwandan nationality, removing one of the major obstacles that stalled his appointment as Uganda’s Minister of State for Internal Affairs.

A notice published in Rwanda’s Official Gazette Special Bis dated July 24, 2026, states that Muganga voluntarily relinquished his Rwandan citizenship.

“The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration would like to inform the general public that the person mentioned below has voluntarily renounced Rwandan nationality,” the notice reads.

The Gazette identifies him as Muganga Lawrence, son of Kayonga Leonard and Mukampizi Immaculate, born in Mukono, Uganda, on February 14, 1976.

The development could strengthen Muganga’s case for reconsideration by Parliament after his nomination was rejected by the Appointments Committee over concerns that he held multiple citizenships.

President Yoweri Museveni appointed Muganga, the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, as Minister of State for Internal Affairs in the Cabinet for the 2026–2031 term.

However, the Appointments Committee reportedly declined to approve him after he failed to provide satisfactory evidence that he had formally renounced citizenship linked to Rwanda and Canada. Muganga had maintained that he was Ugandan and had surrendered his Rwandan identification documents after leaving Rwanda.

The newly published Gazette notice is significant because formal renunciation of Rwandan nationality is completed through approval by Rwandan authorities and publication in the country’s Official Gazette. Before the July notice, Muganga had reportedly produced a declaration made in Uganda but lacked confirmation from Kigali that the renunciation process had been completed.

One Citizenship Hurdle Cleared

Muganga was among four ministerial nominees whose appointments were affected by questions surrounding foreign citizenship.

The others were designated Foreign Affairs Minister Adonia Ayebare, State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs Calvin Echodu and State Minister for Microfinance Shartsi Kutesa Musherure. The nominees reportedly informed Parliament that they had begun renouncing their foreign citizenships.

Parliament approved most of President Museveni’s ministerial nominees, but Muganga’s case was referred back to the appointing authority after legislators raised concerns about his citizenship documentation.

Under Section 19D and the Fifth Schedule of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, a person holding dual citizenship is barred from occupying several sensitive public offices, including those of Cabinet minister and minister of state.

The restriction attracted greater scrutiny in Muganga’s case because the Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees immigration, citizenship administration, border management and national identification matters.

Canadian Citizenship Question Remains

Although the Rwanda Gazette publication removes one major obstacle, it may not automatically clear Muganga for appointment.

Questions could remain over his reported Canadian citizenship, which he previously acknowledged acquiring after living and working in Canada. Muganga said he was prepared to renounce it should that be required for him to serve Uganda.

The latest notice also does not automatically reverse the Appointments Committee’s earlier decision. Parliamentary rules allow the President to appeal against the rejection of a nominee and seek a final determination by Parliament. Alternatively, the appointing authority could submit the nominee for reconsideration after the citizenship concerns have been resolved.

Muganga’s publication in the Rwanda Official Gazette therefore marks a major step towards resolving the controversy, but his assumption of office will depend on proof concerning any remaining foreign nationality and a fresh decision by Uganda’s appointing and parliamentary authorities.