The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Wangadya has responded to Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s claims of the national human rights body being silent to injustices.
While addressing the press on Thursday afternoon on the recent United Kingdom (UK) sanctions targeting Uganda officials, National Unity Planform (NUP) party president accused the UHRC for ignoring human rights violations and taking no action.
In statement dated May 2, 2024, Wangadya dismissed the accusations as baseless with no evidence. She said that UHRC’s position is solid, and has investigated and condemned all forms of human rights whenever they occur and shall continue to do so.
“Through our Human Rights Tribunal and other mechanisms, we have consistently taken action to address every reported human rights complaint and Hon. Kyagulanyi himself has previously filed complaints with us whose hearings are currently underway. In fact, one of his complaints is coming up this month for the second time; the first hearing having aborted due to his unavailability,” Mariam Wangadya noted.
She reaffirmed UHRC commitment to impartiality and dismissed claims of siding with the government.
“Neither the Commission nor its Chairperson has ever mocked, late alone. supported any form of criminal act or human rights abuse against any member of his party or anyone in Uganda. We are on record as the only investigations arm of government to have initiated an investigation into the alleged disappearance of some people purported to be NUP supporters and even issued a detailed report to the general public highlighting action taken in respect of each,” Mariam Wangadya reasoned.
She added that it is disheartening for Kyagulanyi to have made such insinuations against an institution he himself still has trust in, for reasons best known to him.
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The Chairperson called upon the general public to disregard and treat such statements as misplaced, unwarranted and not worth the attention of independent-minded individuals in our society.
