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Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Wangadya has formally accused three fellow commissioners of orchestrating a smear campaign against her, alleging they are working in concert with Members of Parliament she previously reported for corruption. The internal rift, which became public following a video interview on July 3, 2026, centers on claims of institutional sabotage and administrative intimidation.
### Allegations of a Coordinated Campaign
Wangadya stated that the friction began shortly after she assumed office in 2021. According to the Chairperson, two unnamed Members of Parliament warned her immediately after her parliamentary vetting that a specific commissioner would actively seek to undermine her leadership. Wangadya alleged that this commissioner boasted of having previously authored a report that led to the removal of former Energy Minister Irene Muloni from the Cabinet.
“I have never experienced such a hostile working environment in my professional career,” Wangadya said during the interview. She claimed the commissioner repeatedly asserted that security agencies, including the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), had opened files against her. Wangadya dismissed these claims as part of a broader, well-funded effort to discredit her, noting that she has remained in her post despite predictions from her detractors that she would not complete her six-year term.
### Corruption Allegations and Political Backing
The Chairperson linked the current internal friction to her previous tenure at the Inspectorate of Government, where she served as Deputy Inspector General of Government from 2013 to 2021. Wangadya claimed that several MPs she reported to President Yoweri Museveni for soliciting bribes are now using the commissioners as instruments to retaliate against her.
Wangadya maintained that she has consistently resisted pressure from influential figures throughout her three-decade career in public service. She denied all allegations of financial impropriety within the UHRC, arguing that the Commission’s limited budget makes such claims implausible. She challenged the media to verify these allegations with the Inspectorate of Government, asserting that her record of integrity remains intact.
### Demands for Legal Transparency
In response to the ongoing controversy, Wangadya has formally requested that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reconsider a case in which she was the complainant. She noted that she had already provided testimony in the matter before the prosecution was discontinued. The Chairperson argued that reopening the case would allow her testimony to be tested through cross-examination, providing a platform to defend her actions before the court.
If the legal case cannot be revived, Wangadya stated she is seeking authorization to release an audio recording that she contends would clarify the origin of the hostility she has faced within the Commission.
### Constitutional Standards for Leadership
Addressing the broader governance of the Commission, Wangadya expressed concern regarding the appointment process for leadership roles. She emphasized that Article 51 of the Constitution requires commissioners to be individuals of high moral character and proven integrity. She suggested that the appointing authority should have placed greater emphasis on these constitutional requirements when selecting members for the UHRC.
As the dispute persists, the Chairperson has called for greater media responsibility, urging journalists to verify allegations before publication. The Commission currently remains under pressure to address these internal divisions while fulfilling its constitutional mandate to protect and promote the rights of Ugandans, with no immediate resolution scheduled for the conflict between the Chairperson and the three commissioners.
