By Jazeerah Mirembe
The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered the arrest of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Justice Mariam Wangadya after she failed to appear before the committee for a second time.
COSASE, chaired by Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, directed security officials to have Wangadya arrested and produced before the committee on Tuesday at 9:00am to respond to queries concerning the Commission’s accountability and expenditure.
The directive followed Wangadya’s failure to appear before COSASE on Monday after she wrote to the committee saying she could only appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and not COSASE.
On Monday, the UHRC accounting officer and all commissioners appeared before COSASE to account for resources received by the Commission during the 2024/2025 financial year.
However, Wangadya did not attend the session.
According to the Commission’s accounting officer, Wangadya had handed him a letter addressed to COSASE explaining her decision not to appear before the committee.
In the letter, she reportedly said she was willing to appear before other parliamentary committees, including the Committee on Human Rights, but not COSASE.
Her decision angered committee members, who accused her of showing contempt for Parliament and attempting to determine which committee she would appear before.
“This is outright contempt of Parliament. You cannot choose which committee to appear before. Parliament is one,” Nkunyingi said.
The committee also questioned Wangadya’s continued commitment to the UHRC mandate after she reportedly submitted a notice of resignation to the appointing authority.
“If you have resigned, say so. But as long as you are still Chairperson, you are accountable to this committee. This arrogance will not be tolerated,” a committee member said.
Wangadya submitted her resignation early last month, citing a toxic work environment within the Commission. However, the resignation did not immediately end her tenure.
The government later told Parliament that Wangadya remained the substantive chairperson because her resignation had not yet been formally accepted by President Museveni.
She therefore remained accountable to Parliament in her capacity as UHRC chairperson at the time she was summoned by COSASE.
COSASE subsequently ruled that Wangadya’s refusal to appear constituted contempt of Parliament and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure that she is brought before the committee.
“The Sergeant-at-Arms should ensure that Justice Wangadya is brought here tomorrow. We must conclude this matter,” the committee chairperson directed.
The committee is expected to question Wangadya over the UHRC’s financial management and expenditure during the 2024/2025 financial year.