Wangadya absence irks MPs
“We have seen the chairperson of the commission before go on social media ranting, discrediting fellow commissioners. How can we trust such a chairperson to work with these people? These commissioners you see here... some things cannot be mentioned on camera, but I think that chairperson undermines them from social media,” Naturinda argued
Two weeks ago, Wangadya announced that she had resigned from the position of UHRC chairperson, citing intrigue and what she described as the commission's declining stature, saying it had become an asylum centre for debt-ridden politicians. (New Vision/Files)
KAMPALA - Lawmakers on Parliament's Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) were this morning (July 22) left seething with anger after the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, failed to show up for a scheduled hearing.
The hearing was meant to scrutinise Auditor General Edward Akol’s 2024/25 Financial Year report on UHRC.
This was in spite of the presence of several commissioners, including Crispin Kaheru, Shifrah Lukwago and Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru.
Several Members of Parliament (MPs), including Eliab Naturinda (Ndorwa West), said Wangadya’s absence might be a consequence of an internal power struggle within the human rights body.
Two weeks ago, Wangadya announced that she had resigned from the position of UHRC chairperson, citing intrigue and what she described as the commission's declining stature, saying it had become an asylum centre for debt-ridden politicians.
However, Attorney General Sam Mayanja later, during plenary on July 15 this year, clarified that Wangadya had not formally resigned.
“I wish to inform the house that Wangadya, the chairperson of the Commission, submitted a notice of resignation to the appointing authority, His Excellency the President of Uganda, on July 6, 2026.
MPs on stand-off
However, until the stand-off is resolved, Naturinda said the UHRC operations might remain paralysed.
“We have seen the chairperson of the commission before go on social media ranting, discrediting fellow commissioners. How can we trust such a chairperson to work with these people? These commissioners you see here... some things cannot be mentioned on camera, but I think that chairperson undermines them from social media,” he argued.
Naturinda added, "We have the same chairperson still in office as per the words of the acting accounting officer. That means that it should be on record that the chairperson of the UHRC is eating Ugandans' money without proper justification because all she is just interested in is being a social media climber.”
Questionable expenditure
While COSASE had invited the entire UHRC leadership to appear before the committee last week, the committee chairperson, Muwada Nkunyingi (Kyadondo East) sought to establish whether the receiving officer notified Wangadya.
Nkunyingi added, “It is also possible that much as they don’t sit, I don’t think it's only the chairperson who is budgeted for in these meetings; equally, the commissioners and other members are budgeted for.”
The UHRC tribunal last sat in December 2025, with officials attributing the delay to a lack of funds to facilitate hearings.
The tribunal’s sessions are dependent on quarterly budget releases, with officials indicating that, on average, three sessions are held per quarter.
According to the commission’s annual 2025 report, the tribunal had a backlog of 255 cases, with the oldest dating back to 2009. Also, about 500 cases are ongoing.
Officials speak out
According to Kamadi Byonabye, the acting UHRC secretary, Wangadya had previously taken leave prior to returning to office in June this year.
“It is on record that the chairperson took leave from April 2 up to May 29. Throughout those two months, the honourable member of the commission, Lamex Apitta Omara, was the acting chairperson and was directing the affairs of the commission until the substantive chairperson returned,” Byonabye disclosed.