President Museveni Swears In Three Ministers, Calls for Clear Loyalty to Uganda

By Peter Luzinda 

 

President Yoweri Museveni has sworn in three ministers at State House Entebbe, using the ceremony to caution public officials holding dual citizenship to maintain clear loyalty to Uganda.

The new ministers are Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development in charge of Micro-Finance; and Witonze Juma Kisekka, Minister of State for Internal Affairs.

The three took the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Minister under Article 115 of the Constitution.

Museveni congratulated the ministers and urged them to concentrate on improving government performance, particularly by addressing corruption and inefficiency.

He said effective supervision and accountability were necessary to ensure government programmes achieve their intended objectives.

The President also used the occasion to explain his position on dual citizenship, an issue that had delayed the appointment of some of the ministers.

Ayebare and Musherure were appointed earlier this year but did not immediately take office as questions surrounding their dual, mainly US, citizenship were being resolved.

They later completed the process of renouncing their other citizenship, clearing the way for their swearing-in.

Ugandan law prohibits dual citizens from holding certain senior offices, including President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister.

Kisekka's appointment came later after Parliament's Appointments Committee rejected the nomination of Dr Lawrence Muganga for the Internal Affairs ministry over unresolved multiple-citizenship issues.

 

President defends restrictions

 

Museveni said the country's dual citizenship policy was influenced by Uganda's history of political instability, which forced many Ugandans into exile.

He referred to the 1966 Buganda crisis and the rule of former President Idi Amin as periods that contributed to the displacement of Ugandans.

However, Museveni said public officials must have a clear sense of where their loyalty lies because they hold positions of trust on behalf of the country.

He argued that officials serving Uganda cannot owe allegiance to two sides at the same time.

Museveni said dual citizenship should mainly address the situation of Ugandans living far away in the diaspora and should not be used to complicate relations with neighbouring countries.

He also renewed his call for an East African Federation, saying regional political integration would provide a long-term solution to questions of identity, citizenship and integration.

The swearing-in ceremony concludes another phase of the process of filling cabinet positions following the government's earlier reshuffle.