Inside the UHRC Storm! The Untold Story Behind the Fallout Between Chairperson Mariam Wangadya and Some Commissioners

A serious disagreement has erupted within the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) after three commissioners openly challenged their Chairperson, Mariam Wangadya. The dispute has sparked public debate after Wangadya came forward to explain the circumstances surrounding the conflict, accusing some commissioners of working against her leadership and alleging that political figures are supporting the campaign against her.
During an interview with the media on Friday, July 3, 2026, Wangadya said she had been warned about possible challenges even before she officially began her tenure as UHRC Chairperson in 2021. She revealed that after appearing before Parliament for vetting, two MPs escorted her out, and one of them warned her that a fellow commissioner would attempt to frustrate her work.
She said the MP told her that she would face constant attacks, humiliation, disrespect and efforts aimed at damaging her reputation. Wangadya explained that while she hoped such a situation would never happen, the warning eventually became her reality at the Commission.
The Chairperson stated that her first interaction with the commissioner at the centre of the dispute immediately suggested that she was entering a difficult environment. She alleged that the commissioner claimed to have previously influenced the removal of former Energy Minister Irene Muloni after preparing a report that was submitted to the President.
Wangadya said that the hostility she experienced at UHRC was unlike anything she had faced throughout her career. She claimed that she was repeatedly told that security agencies, including the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), had several files concerning her.
She maintained that she remained calm because she trusted her record and had nothing to hide. According to her, her service since joining government in 1996 has been marked by professionalism, and her loyalty to Uganda has never been questioned.
The UHRC Chairperson further alleged that she was frequently reminded that she was not born in Western Uganda and was made to feel that she did not belong. She claimed she was repeatedly told that she would not complete her six-year term as head of the Commission.
Wangadya accused some members of the Commission of spreading allegations that she was under investigation. She described these claims as part of a wider campaign intended to destroy her reputation and weaken public confidence in her leadership.
She alleged that the campaign is being supported by MPs whom she had previously reported to the President over allegations that they demanded bribes from her. Wangadya said the continued attacks against her could not have reached their current level without powerful individuals backing them.
She further claimed that one of the MPs she testified against in court has been actively involved in efforts to discredit her. She also accused a media house of consistently publishing negative stories about her and claimed that some reports were influenced by ethnic bias.
According to Wangadya, although President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni later forgave the MPs involved in the matter, they have continued to resent her because of her role in reporting the allegations. She insisted that she acted in the interest of accountability and followed the law.
The Chairperson appealed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to reconsider a case in which she was the complainant. She said she had already testified and was ready to face cross-examination to allow the facts of the matter to be examined openly.
She added that if the prosecution cannot reopen the case, she should be allowed to present an audio recording connected to the controversy so that the public can understand the background of the accusations and the reasons behind the attacks against her.
Wangadya also used the opportunity to call for careful consideration when appointing leaders to the Uganda Human Rights Commission. She emphasized that the institution has a major constitutional duty to protect and promote the rights of Ugandans and therefore needs leaders with unquestionable integrity.
She referred to Article 51 of the Constitution, which requires UHRC commissioners to be persons of high moral standards and proven integrity. Wangadya expressed concern that some individuals appointed to the Commission may not have fully met those expectations.
The Chairperson defended her own record, highlighting her 30 years of public service, including eight years as Deputy Inspector General of Government and a period as Acting IGG. She said she rejected attempts to bribe her and refused pressure from influential individuals who wanted investigations manipulated for personal interests.
She concluded by dismissing allegations of corruption and misuse of funds at UHRC, arguing that the Commission operates on a limited budget. Wangadya urged the public and media to seek facts from official sources, including the Inspectorate of Government, and encouraged professional and balanced reporting on the ongoing dispute.