Fauzati Mariam Wangadya has resigned as chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), bringing an abrupt end to her tenure following weeks of public disagreements over the leadership and governance of the constitutional body.
In a resignation letter addressed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Wangadya announced her decision without giving reasons for stepping down.
“I hereby tender my resignation as chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. I thank you for the opportunity to serve Uganda over the years in the promotion and protection of human rights,” the letter states.
The Commission’s spokesperson, Alex Bukumunhe, confirmed the resignation but did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding her departure.
Wangadya’s resignation comes less than two weeks after she publicly criticised the process through which some commissioners were appointed, arguing that certain individuals entrusted with serving on the Commission lacked the integrity and qualifications expected of a constitutional body.
At a press briefing earlier this month, Wangadya accused some commissioners of working with members of parliament in an attempt to force her out of office. She also alleged that some legislators had solicited bribes during the process, claims that deepened an already escalating dispute within the Commission.
She further criticised President Museveni’s appointments to the UHRC, arguing that some commissioners were failed political candidates or individuals appointed on grounds other than merit.
Her remarks sparked political debate, with some opposition leaders praising her for speaking publicly about the Commission’s internal challenges, while several members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) criticised her comments and questioned her decision to publicly challenge the appointing authority.
The controversy surrounding Wangadya has also been fuelled by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement raised by some of her fellow commissioners. Reports have indicated that the Inspector General of Government (IGG) has been examining the Commission’s management, although no official findings have been made public.
Wangadya has consistently denied any wrongdoing and rejected claims that she is under investigation.
“I called this press conference to make it clear that the allegations against me are false and malicious. It is not true that I am under investigation by any investigative agency,” she said during her recent media briefing.
She challenged journalists to verify the allegations independently by consulting the Inspector General of Government, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate or any other relevant investigative agency.
According to Wangadya, the accusations subjected both her and her family to months of emotional distress.
“I have been mentally tortured, humiliated, bullied and defamed. This has happened daily for months, and my family has not known peace,” she said.
She also faulted sections of the media for publishing the allegations without adequate verification, arguing that journalists have a responsibility to establish the facts before reporting claims capable of damaging an individual’s reputation.
Her resignation leaves the Uganda Human Rights Commission without a substantive chairperson at a time when the institution continues to face internal divisions and heightened public scrutiny over its leadership and governance.
An advocate and veteran public servant, Wangadya has spent decades in Uganda’s justice and human rights sector. A law graduate of Makerere University with a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre and a master’s degree in Public Administration and Management, she began her career in private legal practice before becoming one of the pioneer commissioners of the Uganda Human Rights Commission in 1996.
She later served as Deputy Inspector General of Government from 2013 to 2021 before returning to the Commission as chairperson in September 2021, a position she held until her resignation.
