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UHRC boss Wangadya finally appears before COSASE for questioning
The committee, chaired by Kyadondo East MP Nkunyingi Muwada, had ordered Wangadya's arrest after snubbing its two consecutive summonses without providing a satisfactory explanation.
UHRC boss Wangadya finally appears before COSASE for questioning
By: Umaru Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
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The chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Mariam Wangadya, has finally appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to answer accountability queries.
The committee, chaired by Kyadondo East MP Nkunyingi Muwada, had ordered Wangadya's arrest after snubbing its two consecutive summonses without providing a satisfactory explanation.
By the time of writing this story on Tuesday (August 11) afternoon, Wangadya had just appeared before the committee.
She submitted a notice of resignation to President Yoweri Museveni on July 6, 2026.
However, the Attorney General (Sam Mayanja) advised that her resignation will only take effect upon formal acceptance by the appointing authority, meaning she remains the substantive chairperson of the commission.
While the committee’s primary focus remains on the Auditor General’s financial report for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, its investigation has widened to cover general governance, operational concerns, and the UHRC’s handling of human rights complaints.
COSASE members uncovered what they described as a breakdown in the UHRC’s leadership.
During the meeting chaired by Nkunyingi on July 22, 2026, officials from UHRC admitted that they had not held a formal commission meeting since March 2026 despite the law requiring the body to oversee the institution’s work.
Nkunyingi questioned the acting secretary and accounting officer, Kamadi Byonabye, over governance and accountability at the commission.
While the committee’s primary focus remains on the Auditor General’s financial report for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, its investigation has widened to cover general governance, operational concerns, and the UHRC’s handling of human rights complaints.
COSASE members uncovered what they described as a breakdown in the UHRC’s leadership.
During the meeting chaired by Nkunyingi on July 22, 2026, officials from UHRC admitted that they had not held a formal commission meeting since March 2026 despite the law requiring the body to oversee the institution’s work.
Nkunyingi questioned the acting secretary and accounting officer, Kamadi Byonabye, over governance and accountability at the commission.
He noted that although Byonabye assumed office after the retirement of the former accounting officer, Margaret Lucy Ejang, he remained responsible for accounting for public funds under Article 164 of the Constitution.
Byonabye revealed that he had personally informed Wangadya about the committee invitation and that she had indicated the Auditor General's report concerned technical matters.
During an earlier interface with COSASE members, UHRC member Simeo Nsubuga confirmed that the commissioners last met in March this year and acknowledged that no subsequent commission meetings had been convened.
"We are supposed to have a monthly commission meeting. The commission meeting is the top management decision-making body of the commission," Nsubuga said before admitting that he had never formally written to remind the chairperson or fellow commissioners to convene another meeting.
The revelations prompted concern from committee members, with Martin Muzaale (Buzaaya County) questioning how the commission had continued executing its constitutional mandate, including submitting reports to Parliament, without meeting as a governing body.
Byonabye revealed that he had personally informed Wangadya about the committee invitation and that she had indicated the Auditor General's report concerned technical matters.
During an earlier interface with COSASE members, UHRC member Simeo Nsubuga confirmed that the commissioners last met in March this year and acknowledged that no subsequent commission meetings had been convened.
"We are supposed to have a monthly commission meeting. The commission meeting is the top management decision-making body of the commission," Nsubuga said before admitting that he had never formally written to remind the chairperson or fellow commissioners to convene another meeting.
The revelations prompted concern from committee members, with Martin Muzaale (Buzaaya County) questioning how the commission had continued executing its constitutional mandate, including submitting reports to Parliament, without meeting as a governing body.