Activist Agather Atuhaire has launched a scathing attack on the leadership of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), accusing its chairperson Mariam Wangadya of making “offensive” remarks and presiding over what she describes as a pattern of dismissing serious human rights complaints.
Atuhaire was reacting to comments attributed to Wangadya, who reportedly described the commission as a “dumping ground for political failures and people with HIV.”
The activist said such statements were unacceptable, particularly from a public official tasked with safeguarding rights.
“When Mariam Wangadya ‘lamented’ that UHRC had become a dumping ground for political failures and people with HIV, I wished I was at that conference,” Atuhaire said.
“I would have asked her whether those same people are the reason she dismissed complaints about missing persons.”
She revisited a 2023 dispute in which the commission dismissed allegations of abductions, accusing the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) of “weaponizing and manipulating” the claims.
Atuhaire questioned the basis of that position, saying families had presented themselves before the commission seeking help.
“Why did she say the abductions were non-existent even after family members came forward crying?” Atuhaire posed.
“How do you tell Ugandans that their loved ones simply went abroad for greener pastures?”
The activist also raised concerns about the commission’s past handling of complaints by NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine. She claimed the commission failed to act on his long-standing grievances over the blocking of his concerts by authorities.
“Why did she order security to forcefully remove Bobi Wine for expressing himself about how the commission disregarded his complaint for over five years?” Atuhaire asked.