The Untold Story Behind Why Some UHRC Commissioners Turned Against Their Chairperson

Three members of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) have openly challenged their Chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, leading to a public dispute that has attracted widespread attention. In response, Wangadya granted an interview in which she detailed the challenges she has faced while working with the commissioners and alleged that they are being supported by a group of Members of Parliament whom she previously reported to the President over corruption allegations. Her remarks sparked significant public debate after a video of the interview circulated widely on social media.

Speaking to the media on July 3, 2026, Wangadya said she had been warned about difficulties she would encounter at the Commission even before assuming office in 2021. According to her, the warning came immediately after her parliamentary vetting.

She recounted that two MPs escorted her after the vetting process, and one of them cautioned her that a fellow commissioner would make every effort to undermine her leadership. Wangadya said she was warned that she would face constant criticism, disrespect, intimidation, and attempts to damage her reputation. She noted that the prediction eventually became reality.

The Chairperson explained that her first interaction with the commissioner in question convinced her that the working relationship would be difficult. She alleged that the commissioner boasted about having previously written a report that contributed to the removal of former Energy Minister Irene Muloni from Cabinet after it was submitted to the President.

Wangadya said she had never experienced such a hostile working environment in her professional career. She claimed that the commissioner repeatedly informed her that there were several files allegedly opened against her by security agencies, including the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

Despite those claims, she maintained that she remained calm because she had nothing to hide. She emphasized that since joining government service in 1996, neither her conduct nor her loyalty to the country had ever been questioned. She further alleged that she was frequently reminded that she was an outsider because she was not born in Western Uganda and was repeatedly told that she would not complete her six-year term as UHRC Chairperson.

The Chairperson also accused some commissioners of fueling reports suggesting that she was under investigation. She dismissed the reports as part of what she described as a coordinated smear campaign involving three commissioners and politicians whom she had earlier reported to the President over alleged bribery demands.

According to Wangadya, the MPs involved have used the commissioners as instruments to intimidate and discredit her. She argued that the sustained campaign against her could not have been organized without substantial financial and political backing.

She alleged that one of the MPs against whom she had previously testified in court was heavily supporting the campaign against her. She further claimed that the effort was being amplified by a media outlet she accused of promoting ethnic bias in its coverage.

Wangadya said that although President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni later forgave the MPs involved, they had never accepted her role in exposing the matter. She insisted that she had done nothing wrong and was simply carrying out her duties as required by law.

The Chairperson appealed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to reconsider a case in which she was the complainant. She noted that she had already testified and was prepared to undergo cross-examination before the prosecution was discontinued.

According to her, reopening the case would allow the truthfulness of her statements to be tested in court. She maintained that she was ready to defend everything she had told the President and investigators if given the opportunity.

She further stated that if the case could not be revived, she would like permission to make public an audio recording that she believes would help explain the source of the hostility directed at her.

During the interview, Wangadya also addressed President Museveni regarding the appointment of leaders to the Uganda Human Rights Commission. She emphasized that the Commission has a broad constitutional mandate to protect and promote the rights of Ugandans and therefore requires competent and credible leadership.

She expressed concern that some individuals appointed to the Commission do not meet the standards envisioned by the Constitution. Referring to Article 51, she noted that commissioners are expected to be persons of high moral character and proven integrity.

Wangadya said she wished the appointing authority had placed greater emphasis on those constitutional requirements when selecting members of the Commission.

Reflecting on her public service career, she pointed out that she has served the country for three decades, including eight years as Deputy Inspector General of Government and a period as Acting IGG.

She stated that throughout her career she had consistently rejected bribes and resisted pressure from influential individuals seeking favors. According to her, politicians had on several occasions attempted to influence investigations and prosecutions, but she refused to compromise her principles.

Wangadya argued that if she were truly corrupt, as some media reports have suggested, she would have accumulated substantial wealth long ago because she had many opportunities to accept large sums of money during her years at the Inspectorate of Government.

She also dismissed allegations that she had misappropriated funds at the Uganda Human Rights Commission, arguing that the institution operates on a limited budget and does not possess the kind of resources being suggested by her critics.

The Chairperson reiterated that even if she were inclined toward corruption—which she firmly denied—the Commission’s financial situation would make such allegations implausible.

She reminded the public that she served as Deputy IGG from August 2013 to August 2021 and also spent several months as Acting IGG. Throughout that period, she said, she maintained a record of integrity and professionalism.

Concluding her remarks, Wangadya urged journalists and media organizations to approach the matter responsibly by verifying allegations before publishing them. She specifically encouraged the media to consult the Inspectorate of Government regarding claims that she is under investigation, noting that her experience at the institution gives her a clear understanding of its procedures and practices.

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