Fake Document Claiming Museveni Ordered Citizenship Checks Circulates Before Being Labeled Fake by Presidential Office

A document dated 28 May 2026 and printed on paper bearing Uganda's coat of arms and presidential letterhead circulated on Facebook and other platforms, claiming that President Yoweri Museveni had directed the director of Citizenship and Immigration Control to verify the citizenship status of four individuals.

The document instructed the immigration director to determine whether Adonia Ayebare, Calvin Echodu, Lawrence Muganga and Sanja Tana held citizenship of any country other than Uganda. It directed authorities to treat the request as urgent and to submit findings by 1 June 2026.

Adonia Ayebare is a diplomat who has served as Uganda's permanent representative to the United Nations. Calvin Echodu is a businessperson and politician associated with the National Resistance Movement. Lawrence Muganga is an academic.

Sanja Tana is a politician. At least two of the named individuals, Muganga and Echodu, are not publicly known to have been recently appointed as cabinet ministers. Uganda's constitution and related public service laws require holders of state or government positions to be citizens of Uganda.

On 29 May 2026, Faruk Kirunda, special presidential assistant for press and mobilisation, posted the document on X and labelled it "FAKE". A presidential spokesperson stated that the document is fake. The circulation of the document occurred amid public debate in Uganda over dual citizenship and eligibility for public office, including questions raised during parliamentary vetting of some ministerial nominees.