The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson, Mariam Wangadya has revealed that President Yoweri Museveni rejected her resignation as the commission chairperson, and instead ordered her to continue serving and executing her mandate.
Wangadya, is appearing before the Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), following issuance of an arrest order by the COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi on Monday, after she failed to honour two consecutive summonses to appear before the committee.
“It is true I wrote a letter of resignation to His Excellency the President, and my resignation was rejected. The honourable learned Attorney General of this country addressed Parliament, and in his address he very clearly said that my resignation had not been accepted, and that I remain the substantive chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission” she said.
When questioned whether she received a formal rejection of the resignation, Wangadya revealed that President Museveni rejected her resignation by a phone call.
“The response I received from the appointing authority was through a phone call, it was not in writing. Sometimes His Excellency the President communicates through phone calls, and I was instructed, if I had left office, to return to office immediately, and I complied with the directive of the Fountain of Honour” she said.
Prior to announcing her intentions to resign, Wangadya strongly criticised Museveni over the calibre of appointments he makes to the Commission, accusing him of turning the institution into a dumping ground for failed politicians.
“I have concerns to my president. He has persistently shown us that he does not respect this institution, when I look at the people he appoints to this Commission, it appears he has turned the Commission into a dumping ground for failed politicians. Politicians who lose elections and run to him for appointments end up being appointed to this Commission” she said.
According to Wangadya, the appointments undermined the commission, with a broad constitutional mandate in the country.
Later on in a letter dated July 6th to President Yoweri Museveni, Wangadya gave him notice of her resignation and thanked him for promoting and protecting human rights over the years.
“I hereby tender my resignation as Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. I thank you for the opportunity to serve Uganda over the years in the promotion and protection of human rights” Wangadya stated.
She is currently appearing before COSACE to answer queries arising from the Auditor General’s report on UHRC for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The committee has raised questions over the Commission’s governance and financial management, including the failure to hold formal commission meetings since March 2026 and the disruption of the tribunal’s operations.
MPs were also told that tribunal hearings had stalled, with the last sessions reportedly held in December 2025 after the budget allocated for hearings was exhausted.
The committee has also raised concerns over delays in handling human rights complaints and the management of more than 200 files.
