Muganga Alleges Bias, Descrimination and Hate in Parliamentary Vetting Process.

By Skika Reporter.

The Minister-designate for Internal Affairs, Lawrence Muganga, has accused members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee of bias, discrimination, and political sabotage following his contentious vetting before the committee.

In a statement issued after the proceedings, Muganga dismissed allegations that he holds dual citizenship with Rwanda, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.

His remarks came amid growing public debate surrounding his appearance before the committee and comments made by legislator Daudi Kabanda regarding his citizenship status.

Muganga also directed criticism at Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who chairs the Appointments Committee, alleging that the outcome of the vetting process had been predetermined before he appeared before lawmakers.

According to Muganga, he possesses audio evidence that he claims demonstrates committee members had already decided that one nominee would fail the vetting process and that he had been selected for that outcome.

He argued that the decision was not based on questions of citizenship, qualifications, or integrity, but on personal and discriminatory considerations.

The minister-designate said he intends to release the alleged audio recording to the public.

Muganga further alleged that his treatment during the vetting amounted to discrimination linked to 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 international institutions for decades, working in numerous countries without experiencing what he described as the level of hostility encountered during the parliamentary vetting process.

He also challenged the public and media to seek accounts from other members of the Appointments Committee, including opposition legislators who attended the proceedings.

Muganga questioned whether resistance to his appointment stemmed from factors beyond citizenship concerns, suggesting that some political actors may have been uncomfortable with his potential leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

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

The allegations have added a new dimension to the ongoing debate surrounding the ministerial approval process, raising broader questions about transparency, identity, citizenship, and fairness in public appointments.

As of publication, neither Parliament nor Deputy Speaker Tayebwa had publicly responded to Muganga’s specific allegations, including his claims regarding the existence of audio recordings linked to the vetting process.

The controversy comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of Cabinet appointments and is expected to remain a key topic as Parliament continues consideration of presidential nominees