By Swift Reporter
The recent vetting of ministerial appointees by Parliament’s Appointments Committee has attracted scrutiny from the highest levels of government, with sources indicating that a special inquiry has been launched into how the committee handled questions surrounding dual citizenship and eligibility for public office-Swift News reports exclusively.
According to sources familiar with developments, President Yoweri Museveni has directed an intelligence-led review of the vetting process conducted by the Appointments Committee, which is chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. The reported inquiry is said to be examining whether the committee applied legal and constitutional requirements consistently when assessing nominees for ministerial positions.
At the centre of the matter are concerns over the committee’s handling of candidates whose citizenship status was reportedly raised during the vetting exercise.
Sources claim the review seeks to establish why some nominees, including Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, Adonia Ayebare, Calvin Echodu and others, were approved without significant hurdles despite questions that had been raised regarding dual citizenship, while Dr. Lawrence Muganga, the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, was left out of consideration during the same process.
The apparent difference in treatment has sparked debate among political observers and raised questions about whether uniform standards were applied to all candidates.
One source familiar with the matter claimed that President Museveni is now seeking answers on whether the committee followed the same legal criteria for every nominee.
“The President wants to know whether the same standards were applied across the board, including in the case of Dr. Muganga and if yes, why was he excluded yet his colleagues were cleared,” the source said.
Under Uganda’s parliamentary procedures, the Appointments Committee is expected to assess nominees against established constitutional and legal requirements before recommending their approval or rejection. Any perceived inconsistency in the application of those standards can attract public and political scrutiny.
According to sources, a team comprising security and legal experts has reportedly been tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the vetting exercise and determining whether all procedures were followed as required.
While details of the reported inquiry remain limited, analysts note that any review involving senior legal and security officials is likely to attract considerable attention given the significance of the appointments process.
Should the inquiry establish evidence of procedural irregularities, observers say its findings could have implications for those involved in the vetting exercise including the Deputy Speaker Tayebwa.
Neither Parliament nor the individuals named in the reported inquiry had issued public statements on the matter by the time of publication.
The developments come amid growing public concerns in the transparency of Uganda’s parliament and how top officials in that House exercise their powers.
More details are expected to emerge as the situation develops. Stay tuned.
WhatsApp/Call: +256 754 137391
