Listen to Tayebwa's audio telling Dr Lawrence Muganga that it’s their norm of dropping one of the appointed ministers, asserting that this time it was him

Kampala – Fresh controversy has erupted in Uganda’s political circles following the rejection of Dr Lawrence Muganga’s nomination as State Minister for Internal Affairs, with the academic releasing what he claims is damning audio evidence of bias by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. 

Audio

Dr Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University and a nominee in President Yoweri Museveni’s recent cabinet reshuffle, was among only a handful not cleared by Parliament’s Appointments Committee. While official reasons cited concerns over multiple citizenships — allegedly involving Uganda, Rwanda, and Canada — Muganga has strongly rejected this, accusing the process of being predetermined and politically motivated. 

In a strongly worded statement, Dr Muganga alleged that the outcome was decided long before his appearance before the committee. He pointed directly to an audio recording in which Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who played a prominent role in the vetting process, reportedly told him that it is “their norm” to drop one appointee during such exercises — and that this time, the axe fell on him. 

According to Muganga, the recording captures Tayebwa stating words to the effect of: “In every vetting session we have to fail someone, and this time it had to be you, Dr Muganga.” He described the rejection as “personal, calculated, and discriminatory,” and vowed to release the full audio recording soon to back his claims. 

The development has sparked intense debate on social media and in political commentary, with some questioning the transparency and fairness of the parliamentary vetting process.

Supporters of Dr Muganga, who has ties to the Banyarwanda community in Uganda, have raised allegations of ethnic targeting, while others point to legitimate constitutional questions regarding dual or multiple citizenships for high-level public office holders.Parliament’s Appointments Committee, which concluded vetting of the latest batch of nominees this week, cleared the vast majority of President Museveni’s appointees. Deputy Speaker Tayebwa announced that 80 out of 82 nominees were approved, with Muganga’s case cited among the exceptions due to unresolved issues. 

As of now, neither Deputy Speaker Tayebwa nor the Speaker’s office has issued a detailed public response to the audio allegations or Muganga’s accusations of bias. 

The Presidency is expected to review the committee’s recommendations before making final decisions on the affected nominees.

This saga adds another layer of drama to the ongoing cabinet formation process, highlighting tensions between the executive and legislature over appointments and the influence of behind-the-scenes dynamics in Ugandan politics. Observers are watching closely to see whether the audio, if released in full, will lead to further scrutiny of the vetting exercise or simply fade into the chorus of political claims and counter-claims.