Breaking: U.S. Embassy Briefs Gov’t on Amb Ayebare Renunciation Process

The United States Embassy has provided Ugandan authorities with additional information regarding Foreign Affairs Minister-designate Adonia Ayebare’s citizenship renunciation process, as President Yoweri Museveni reviews the status of four ministerial nominees whose swearing-in was postponed over citizenship concerns.

Sources familiar with the matter told ChimpReports that Ayebare recently appeared before U.S. officials via Zoom after submitting his citizenship renunciation papers.

Ayebare also waived privacy protections that ordinarily prevent U.S. authorities from discussing an individual’s citizenship records with third parties, allowing American officials to directly brief Ugandan government officials on the status of his case.

The discussions reportedly involved officials from the U.S. Embassy and Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sources said U.S. officials confirmed that Ayebare had already commenced the formal process of renouncing his American citizenship and explained the legal implications of that decision.

According to the officials, U.S. citizenship renunciation requires an individual to voluntarily undertake a formal process before American authorities, after which the matter is forwarded to the U.S. Department of State for processing and issuance of a Certificate of Loss of Nationality.

The officials emphasized that once an individual enters the renunciation process, the decision is intended to culminate in loss of citizenship and is generally not reversible.

The clarification comes as President Museveni considers a report prepared by a special committee established to review the citizenship status of four ministerial nominees.

Sources say the committee was constituted after State Minister-designate for Internal Affairs Dr. Lawrence Muganga complained that he had been unfairly targeted during the vetting process because he is a Munyarwanda.

Museveni subsequently tasked Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, State House legal officer Florence Kiconco and Solicitor General Pius Perry Biribonwoha with engaging the affected nominees and preparing a report.

The committee met Adonia Ayebare, Calvin Echodu, Sharsti Kutesa Musherure and Dr. Lawrence Muganga before submitting its findings to the President over the weekend.

Speaking during Monday’s Cabinet swearing-in ceremony at State House Entebbe, Nakyobe confirmed that the consultations had taken place.

“The four others, as guided by the President, were engaged over the weekend by myself and the Solicitor General,” she said.

“A brief has been submitted for further guidance from the President.”

The four nominees were absent from Monday’s inauguration ceremony.

During Parliament’s vetting process, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa disclosed that four nominees had been flagged after verification by the Ministry of Internal Affairs identified dual or multiple citizenship concerns.

According to sources familiar with the review, Ayebare, Echodu and Musherure submitted documentation showing they had initiated citizenship renunciation procedures with foreign authorities and received acknowledgements confirming receipt of their applications.

The position of Dr. Muganga remains more complex because questions persist regarding documentation relating to his Canadian and Rwandan citizenship status.

The committee’s report is understood to contain information obtained from foreign governments regarding the citizenship status of the affected nominees.

President Museveni is now expected to review the report before making a final determination on whether the four ministers can be sworn in.

Until then, Ayebare, Echodu, Musherure and Muganga remain unsworn despite having been nominated to Cabinet.

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