Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb. Adonia Ayebare, and former MP for Mawogola North, Hon Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, are set to be sworn in next week as Minister for Foreign Affairs and State Minister for Microfinance, respectively, after reportedly completing the renunciation of their United States citizenship.
Multiple government sources say President Museveni has already directed Head of Public Service Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye to identify a suitable date when he is available in Kampala to preside over the ceremony, with Monday now earmarked for the inauguration.
The development follows weeks of uncertainty after four Cabinet nominees were unable to take the oath of office alongside the rest of the Cabinet because of concerns surrounding their dual citizenship status.
Parliament’s Appointments Committee had cleared the nominations of Ayebare, Musherure and David Calvin Echodu, who was nominated as State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), but advised that they first complete the formal renunciation of their foreign citizenship before assuming office.
Following the committee’s recommendations, President Museveni reportedly withheld their swearing-in after receiving legal advice that administering the oath before completion of the renunciation process could expose the appointments to legal challenge.
But government sources now say both Ayebare and Musherure have fulfilled the legal requirements relating to the renunciation of their U.S. citizenship, effectively clearing the final hurdle to their appointment.
A swearing-in ceremony had initially been planned for Thursday, July 23, but was postponed because of the President’s official programme.
Meanwhile, Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr Lawrence Muganga is unlikely to join the Cabinet after reportedly failing to satisfy the legal requirements relating to his citizenship status during the parliamentary vetting process.
Sources indicate that both Muganga and Echodu could ultimately be replaced, with alternative names already submitted to President Museveni for consideration.
Muganga has consistently maintained that he was the target of a political witch-hunt by some Members of Parliament. However, parliamentary officials have insisted that the committee based its decision strictly on the documentary evidence presented during the vetting exercise.
The citizenship questions prompted President Museveni to direct Head of Public Service Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, State House legal officer Florence Kiconco and Solicitor General Pius Perry Biribonwoha to engage the affected nominees and advise him on the appropriate legal course.
During the earlier Cabinet swearing-in ceremony at State House Entebbe, Nakyobe confirmed that consultations had been completed and that a report had been submitted to the President.
If next week’s inauguration proceeds as planned, Ayebare and Musherure will become the first of the affected nominees to officially join Cabinet, while the fate of Echodu and Muganga remains unresolved.
DailyExpress has not independently verified the reports regarding the planned swearing-in or the possible replacement of David Calvin Echodu and Dr Lawrence Muganga. Government had not issued an official statement on the matter by the time of publication.
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