UHRC rocked by misconduct claims

Three commissioners of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni and the Inspector General of Government (IGG), raising a raft of allegations including financial misconduct, abuse of office, and maladministration within the Commission.

The commissioners; Simeo Nsubuga, Col. (Rtd) Steven Basaliza, and Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru detail their grievances in documents dated February 12, 2026, addressed to President Museveni, and March 4, 2026, to the IGG.

In the petition, the trio accuses the UHRC chairperson, Mariam Fauzat Wangadya, of presiding over what they describe as systemic mismanagement and irregular decision-making in the running of the Commission’s affairs.

NSSF CONTRIBUTIONS QUESTIONED

One of the key allegations centres on Wangadya’s contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). According to the commissioners, Wangadya joined the Commission in September 2021 at the age of 56, making her ineligible for NSSF contributions under existing public service guidelines.

Despite this, they allege that she instructed the human resource manager and the secretary to the Commission to continue remitting a 10 per cent government contribution on her behalf. This arrangement reportedly persisted until March 2025, when it was halted following pressure from the ministry of Public Service.

The commissioners claim that for over three years, the chairperson knowingly benefited from funds she was not entitled to, describing the payments as illegal.

SALARY ENHANCEMENT CONTROVERSY

The petition also accuses Wangadya of irregularly allocating Shs 2 billion from the Commission’s Shs 10.4 billion budget towards salary enhancements for herself, commissioners, and staff.

According to the petitioners, the chairperson bypassed established procedures that require approval from Cabinet and Parliament before any changes to public officials’ remuneration can be effected. Instead, they say, she unilaterally determined her salary and that of fellow commissioners.

They allege that during a commission meeting held on December 18, 2024, Wangadya informed members of their revised pay without disclosing her own salary.

“The difference between her salary and that of members is Shs 20 million. She usurped the powers of Parliament to determine her own salary and that of members, while neglecting staff whose pay is determined by Cabinet and who remain lowly paid,” the petition states.

ALLEGED MISUSE OF OFFICE FUNDS

The commissioners further raise concerns about what they describe as disproportionate budgetary allocations to the Office of the Chairperson. They allege that the office receives more funding than some departments, ostensibly for stakeholder engagements that, according to them, do not take place.

They claim that funds intended for such activities are instead channelled through private bank accounts belonging to the Chairperson’s personal assistants. Initially, the funds were allegedly routed through the account of Pauline Nansamba, and later through Doreen Mukunyu Nabatte.

“These personal accounts should be investigated to explain why they receive that money and how it is spent,” the petitioners argue.

The petition also highlights alleged irregularities in procurement and expenditure. The commissioners claim that instead of prioritising the commission’s core mandate, senior officials opted to allocate funds towards the purchase of high-end vehicles and 60kVA generators for their private residences, valued at approximately Shs 160 million.

They further allege that commissioner Crispin Kaheru requested Shs 44 million to install a generator at his residence, although this request was reportedly declined. In addition, the commissioners accuse the chairperson and senior officials of engaging in excessive foreign travel, describing trips to the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Nairobi as “money-making ventures” that warrant investigation.

They also allege that procurement processes have been undermined, with the chairperson and certain officials taking over the purchase of air tickets from the procurement unit without clear justification. Staffing decisions at the Commission have also come under scrutiny.

The commissioners accuse Wangadya of irregular recruitment and promotion practices, citing the case of Pauline Nansamba Mutumba. According to the petition, Nansamba joined the Commission in September 2021 as the chairperson’s personal assistant but has since been rapidly promoted to director of complaints, investigations and legal services, and caretaker director of monitoring and inspections.

The petitioners allege that these promotions were made at the expense of more qualified and long-serving officers within the Commission. They further claim that Nansamba was appointed chairperson of the contracts committee and head of the fleet oversight committee under the direction of the chairperson, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of procurement processes.

The commissioners also allege that Wangadya received Shs 77 million from the Chinese Embassy intended for the purchase of ICT equipment for the chairperson’s office. They claim that the funds were deposited into her personal account and that the equipment was never procured.

In a separate claim, they allege that a vehicle donated to the Commission by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in mid-2025 was taken by commissioner Crispin Kaheru for temporary use but has not been returned. Efforts to recover the vehicle, they say, have been unsuccessful, even as the Commission faces transport challenges.

IGG INITIATES INVESTIGATIONS

On March 25, 2026, the Inspector General of Government wrote to the Secretary of the UHRC, indicating that investigations into the allegations had commenced. In the letter, the IGG introduced investigators Kharim Ainomugisha and Zakaria Tiberindwa, who were assigned to handle the matter, and requested the commission’s cooperation in providing relevant documents and facilitating interviews.

“You are asked to accord them the necessary assistance, including providing all relevant documents and any additional information that may be required during the investigation, and to make yourself or any officer under your charge available for interview,” the letter reads in part.

However, when contacted for comment, IGG spokesperson Ali Munira declined to discuss the matter, saying: “We are not discussing that matter. Sorry, I can’t comment.”

UHRC DISMISSES CLAIMS

In response, chairperson Wangadya has strongly denied the allegations, maintaining that neither she nor any member of staff is under investigation.

“Please know there is no investigation against me, or any commissioner or staff member. If I wrote a letter saying we are investigating you, does that mean you are guilty?” she said.

Wangadya suggested that the petitioners were attempting to tarnish the image of the Commission and urged journalists to verify information independently with the IGG. She also encouraged the media to focus on substantive human rights issues, including ongoing concerns around arrests, detention conditions, and access to bail.

Separately, UHRC public affairs manager Alex Bukumunhe issued a statement dismissing the allegations as false and defamatory.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports circulating on some social and other media platforms claiming that the chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, and other members and staff of the Commission are under investigation and that the chairperson is not in office. These allegations are false. The Commission remains fully operational,” he said.

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