Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende has questioned the effectiveness of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), accusing the institution of failing to protect citizens from alleged rights violations despite receiving government support.Malende, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), said Attorney General Sam Mayanja’s defence of the commission did not convince her, arguing that the situation on the ground shows continued complaints of human rights abuses.
Speaking at Parliament, the legislator said many Ugandans, especially opposition supporters, continue to face challenges involving arrests, restricted access to lawyers and families, and delayed legal processes without sufficient intervention from the human rights body.She cited the case of NUP figure Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, claiming that his family, legal team and doctors have not been able to access him. Malende questioned why UHRC had not taken stronger steps to investigate and address the concerns surrounding his detention.The MP accused security agencies of being linked to several alleged rights violations and said institutions created to defend citizens must do more to hold authorities accountable.
She also criticized UHRC for what she described as slow action on complaints, unresolved cases and limited public awareness efforts.Malende further challenged the commission’s record on supporting victims of abuse, saying it had not done enough in areas such as compensation, research and human rights education despite funding from Parliament.She also raised questions about reports involving UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, claiming Attorney General Mayanja had given inconsistent information about her situation.
Malende said Wangadya had only expressed an intention to resign, citing pressure and investigations.Mayanja, however, rejected claims that Wangadya or other commissioners were facing investigations, saying there was no official report before Parliament on the matter. The disagreement has sparked fresh debate about the role and independence of Uganda’s human rights institutions.
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