Parliament has ordered the arrest of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson, Ms Mariam Wangadya, after she repeatedly failed to appear before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to answer accountability queries.
The directives follow financial discrepancies highlighted in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.
In a letter dated August 10, seen by the Daily Monitor, COSASE Chairperson Mr Muwada Nkunyingi directed the commander of the Parliament Police Division to arrest Ms Wangadya and produce her before the committee on Tuesday at 9:00 AM.
According to Mr Nkunyingi, Ms Wangadya snubbed two consecutive committee summons without providing a satisfactory explanation.
‘During the meeting, it was ruled that arrest orders do issue, to have Ms Wangadya Mariam arrested and produced before the Committee on Tuesday, 11th August 2026, at 9:00 AM,’ Mr Nkunyingi wrote, invoking Rules 218(d)(i) and (e) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
He called on Parliament Police to execute the order to enable the committee to fulfill its constitutional mandate under Articles 90 and 163 of the Constitution. The Daily Monitor understands that Parliamentary Police have received the directive and are preparing to execute the arrest.
Wangadya declines to comment
When contacted on Monday evening regarding the impending arrest, Ms Wangadya maintained a tight lip.
‘I don’t have a comment on that,’ she said.
The arrest order was issued after committee members unanimously resolved to compel her appearance when UHRC officials arrived at Parliament without her.
The delegation was led by the commission’s Acting Secretary and Accounting Officer, Mr Kamadi Byonabye, who presented a letter from Ms Wangadya explaining her absence. In the letter, she stated that she would instead present the national human rights status report before Parliament’s Human Rights Committee.
‘I will present the status report on human rights in the country before the relevant Committee-the Human Rights Committee of Parliament-on a date and time to be scheduled by the Committee,’ her letter read in part.
‘She cannot choose where to appear’
Rejecting her explanation, Mr Nkunyingi stated that Ms Wangadya’s attempt to select which committee to appear before undermines parliamentary oversight and accountability processes.
‘First of all, it’s not proper for anyone being summoned by the committee to decide how and where she will appear. All Auditor General’s reports about the Uganda Human Rights Commission come before the COSASE Committee, and it’s not proper for the leader of the vote to say that they will not appear,’ Mr Nkunyingi emphasized.
He stressed that COSASE holds the sole constitutional mandate to scrutinize accountability issues arising from Auditor General reports concerning statutory bodies like the UHRC.
Ms Wangadya, however, countered that she had already addressed some of the queries before Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
‘Why doesn’t this committee interact with its counterpart? I explained all these things, and to date, we are waiting for their report… as I said on my arrest, I will not comment,’ she added, referring the newspaper to her earlier correspondence with the committee.
Dispute over deputy chairperson
In her submission to COSASE, Ms Wangadya also dismissed questions regarding the status of a Deputy Chairperson at the commission, arguing that the position is legally non-existent.
‘The position of ‘Deputy Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission’ does not exist. I am, therefore, unable to ‘clarify the status’ of an officer who does not exist,’ she wrote, adding that creating such a role would require a constitutional amendment.
Widening inquiry
While COSASE’s primary focus remains on the Auditor General’s financial audit, its probe has broadened to cover general governance, operational concerns, and the commission’s handling of human rights complaints.
The ongoing standoff adds to the turbulence surrounding the commission’s leadership. On July 6, Ms Wangadya reportedly submitted a notice of resignation to President Yoweri Museveni, the appointing authority. However, the Attorney General later advised Parliament that she remains the substantive UHRC Chairperson.
COSASE is scheduled to resume proceedings today at 9:00 AM, where Ms Wangadya is expected to be produced under police custody.