Mao Asks Parliament to Fast-Track UHRC Probe, Says Constitution Limits Government Intervention

What the report says

Uganda’s Justice Minister Norbert Mao has called on Parliament to speed up its inquiry into the leadership and management dispute at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), arguing that the legislature’s findings will help the appointing authority decide the next steps. He made the remarks on Tuesday while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Bugweri County MP John Teira, as lawmakers continued examining concerns about the Commission’s operations.

Mao said the government is restricted from stepping directly into the UHRC’s internal affairs because the Constitution protects the Commission’s independence. He said the ministry can supervise the institution in a broad sense, but not intervene in a way that would compromise that autonomy. He also said Parliament’s probe should help address reported internal divisions and strengthen the body’s work.

According to the minister, concerns before the committee include claims of cliques, discrimination in decision-making and how cases have been handled. He also clarified that UHRC Chairperson Justice Margaret Wangadya remains in office unless the appointing authority decides otherwise, despite reports that she had submitted a resignation notice.

The committee’s wider review is also looking at accountability issues, including foreign travel and donor funding. Parliament is expected to compile recommendations from the inquiry and pass them on for consideration by the appointing authority. More broadly, such investigations can shape how independent constitutional bodies handle governance disputes while balancing oversight and institutional autonomy.