COSASE Suspends Human Rights Commission Hearing Over Leadership Vacuum

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) halted a hearing with the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) after commissioners appeared without chairperson Mariam Wangadya. The committee had summoned the commission to answer audit issues from the Auditor General’s 2024 report, but the session shifted to questions about who was authorized to speak for the institution.

According to the report, six commissioners attended, but none said they had been delegated by Wangadya to represent the commission’s leadership. Commissioner Omara Lamex said he was appearing in his personal capacity, while other commissioners, including Simeo Nsubuga, Shifrah Lukwago and Crispin Kaheru, indicated they had responded to individual invitations. MPs raised concern that the constitutional body appeared to lack effective coordination.

The hearing also brought out operational concerns. Nile Post reported that Nsubuga told MPs that monthly management meetings had not been held since March 9, 2026. The committee was also told that the UHRC tribunal had not sat since December 2025, with officials citing funding and procedural obstacles. Lukwago said the commission’s rules require the chairperson to preside over tribunal sessions, which has contributed to a backlog reported at 255 human rights cases older than two years, including one pending since 2009.

The report said uncertainty over Wangadya’s status followed accounts that she had submitted a resignation letter to the appointing authority on July 6, 2026. Acting Secretary and Accounting Officer Leonard Kamadi Byonabye said he had received no formal communication on the matter. COSASE chairperson Muwada Nkunyinji suspended the proceedings and directed the full commission, including Wangadya, to appear on Friday.