Written By | Staff Writer
Wangadya had been given additional time to appear before the committee for scrutiny of the Auditor General’s report but failed to do so.
Search
KAMPALA — Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered police to ensure Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Wangadya appears before the committee after she failed to honour a second invitation to respond to issues arising from the Auditor General’s report.
COSASE Chairperson Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi said Wangadya had been given additional time to appear before the committee for scrutiny of the Auditor General’s report but failed to do so.
According to the committee, Wangadya instead communicated through the Accounting Officer that she would appear before another parliamentary committee.
Nkunyingi described the decision as insubordination and contempt of the committee’s proceedings, arguing that a witness summoned by a parliamentary committee cannot choose which committee to appear before.
“I want to instruct our CID to look for Mariam Wangadya, arrest her and bring her before this committee,” Nkunyingi said.
Hon. Nkunyingi
The committee invoked Rule 218, which provides for special powers of parliamentary committees to enforce the attendance of witnesses.
Nkunyingi said Wangadya had been specifically invited because the Auditor General’s report contained matters requiring her response.
“A witness cannot choose how to respond,” Nkunyingi said, arguing that Wangadya could not substitute a written response or appearance before another committee for an appearance before COSASE.
The committee has directed that Wangadya be produced before COSASE at 9:00 a.m.
Wangadya
UHRC Tribunal Has Not Sat Since December 2025
The developments came as COSASE scrutinised the operations of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, including concerns over a growing number of pending cases.
UHRC commissioners told the committee that the Commission’s Human Rights Tribunal last sat in December 2025.
During the questioning, the commissioners said the tribunal can only be constituted when the Chairperson and at least three other members are present.
They further explained that the Chairperson is responsible for convening and chairing the tribunal’s sittings.
The revelation has raised concerns within COSASE over the handling of ageing cases before the Commission and the impact of the tribunal’s inactivity on access to justice for complainants.
The committee is continuing its scrutiny of the Auditor General’s report and the operations of the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
