COSASE Directs Arrest of Wangadya

What the report says

Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered the arrest of Uganda Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Mariam Wangadya after she failed to appear before the panel for a second time. The committee, chaired by Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, said she should be produced before it to answer questions about the commission’s accountability and spending for the 2024/2025 financial year.

According to the Nile Post report, Wangadya had asked to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights instead of COSASE, saying in a letter that she was willing to meet other committees but not this one. COSASE members rejected that position and accused her of contempt of Parliament, arguing that she could not choose which parliamentary body to answer to. The committee also noted concerns about her status after she reportedly submitted a resignation notice.

The article says Wangadya resigned early last month, citing a difficult working environment at the commission, but her departure had not yet been formally accepted by President Yoweri Museveni. On that basis, government officials told Parliament she remained the substantive UHRC chairperson and was still accountable to lawmakers. COSASE has now directed security officials and the Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure she appears before the committee on Tuesday morning.