President Yoweri Museveni is set to officially swear in Ambassador Adonia Ayebare and Shartsi Kutesa Musherure after the two cleared the citizenship concerns that had delayed their appointment to Cabinet.Government sources indicate that Museveni has directed Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye to schedule the swearing-in ceremony once the President’s programme allows him to preside over the event.
The development follows the completion of the formal renunciation of their United States citizenship, a requirement that had become a major issue after Parliament’s Appointments Committee reviewed the status of several ministerial nominees.Ayebare, who was nominated as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Musherure, who is set to become Minister of State for Microfinance, were among officials who missed the earlier Cabinet oath-taking ceremony at State House Entebbe because of unresolved citizenship questions.
The Appointments Committee had approved their nominations but advised that they first complete the legal process of giving up their foreign citizenship before officially taking up government positions. President Museveni later held back their inauguration after receiving legal guidance on the matter.Officials familiar with the process say the completion of the renunciation procedure has now removed the legal obstacles surrounding their appointments, allowing preparations for their swearing-in to move forward.
An earlier ceremony planned for July 23 was postponed due to changes in the President’s schedule.Meanwhile, the appointment of Calvin Echodu, nominated Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs, remains under review as his citizenship file continues to be processed.The case of Dr. Lawrence Muganga remains unresolved after Parliament declined to approve his appointment over concerns about multiple citizenship and lack of documentation proving that he had started the formal renunciation process. The planned inauguration of Ayebare and Musherure marks a major step toward concluding the citizenship dispute that affected the latest Cabinet appointments.
