By Joseph Kiggundu
PARLIAMENT. Attorney General Sam Mayanja has said Ms Mariam Fauzat Wangadya is still the substantive Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) .
Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Mayanja said Ms Wangadya simply submitted a notice expressing intention to resign by on 06 July 2026 to the President which does not constitute an actual resignation.
He explained that under established legal practice, Ms Wangadya’s resignation only takes effect after a formal resignation letter is submitted and accepted by the appointing authority who is in this case President Museveni.
“As matters stand, she remains the substantive Chairperson of the Commission,” Mayanja told MPs during the plenary sitting on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth.
Mayanja, in his statement, also defended the operational integrity of the UHRC, insisting that the constitutional watchdog remains fully functional despite an ongoing investigation by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
He dismissed suggestions that the commission had become ineffective, saying it continues to execute its constitutional mandate without interruption.
The statement followed concerns raised by Kalungu County West MP, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu, during a July 07 plenary sitting, where the legislator questioned the commission’s effectiveness in protecting and enforcing human rights, citing media reports about investigations into the institution.
“The commission has continued to issue remedies in deserving cases, including compensation awards, injunctive relief and other legal redress for victims of rights abuses,” Mayanja said.
He added that the commission is fully constituted with seven members, including the chairperson, whose terms of office are staggered to guarantee institutional continuity and preserve institutional memory.
Established under Article 51 of the Constitution, the UHRC is mandated under Article 52 to investigate human rights violations, either on its own initiative or following complaints from individuals or groups. Its functions are further elaborated under the Uganda Human Rights Commission Act, Cap. 26.