By Lawmakers on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee have sharply criticised the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) over what they termed as misplaced priorities, ineffective oversight of detention facilities, and insufficient compensation for victims of human rights violations.
The criticism was sparked during a session held to scrutinise the Commission’s 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement, where MPs raised questions about the agency’s spending plans and performance on its core mandate of protecting and promoting human rights.
Erute South MP Jonathan Odur led the charge, questioning the Commission’s proposal to purchase 40 portraits of the President in the upcoming financial year. Odur expressed concern that the procurement item was not only unnecessary but could be interpreted as a prediction of political transition in 2026.
“Now, one of the indicators you have is the procurement of 40 portraits of the President. I don’t know whether the current portrait isn’t depicting him well or if you’re predicting we will have a new President after the elections. Kindly clarify, because this raises more questions than answers,” Odur remarked.
He castigated the Commission for veering away from its constitutional mandate of safeguarding citizens’ rights and instead engaging in peripheral activities that do little to advance human rights in the country.
Odur also questioned the Commission’s criteria for selecting detention centres to inspect. While UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya reported that 303 detention sites were visited in 2024/25 including 72 prisons, 230 police stations, and one remand home MPs were dismayed by the omission of key military detention facilities in the central region, particularly in Buganda, where many high-profile human rights violations have been reported.
“The Central Region, especially Buganda, has been the epicentre of forced disappearances and torture by security agencies. Yet, you chose to inspect facilities in Gulu. Why avoid the core issue?” Odur asked.
He cited several cases of alleged military abductions and illegal detentions that have emerged from Kampala and surrounding areas, demanding an explanation for the Commission’s apparent neglect of these hotspots.
Further scrutiny came from Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, who condemned the UHRC for awarding what he described as “ridiculous” compensation sums to victims of torture, unlawful detention, and other abuses.
Basalirwa argued that the current average awards of Shs5 million to Shs30 million trivialize the severity of the violations, calling instead for payouts ranging from Shs100 million to Shs200 million to act as meaningful redress and deterrent.
“Your own reports cite violations of the right to life and security. How then do you justify awarding Shs5 million to someone who has been tortured? Aren’t you condoning human rights abuses with such meagre awards?” he asked.
In her response, UHRC Chairperson Wangadya acknowledged the concerns raised by the MPs but defended the Commission’s work within its limited mandate and resources. She noted that in the 2024/25 period, the Commission received 1,606 complaints (992 from men and 614 from women), out of which 95 met the criteria for formal registration and 16 were disposed of.
Wangadya admitted that delays in paying out awarded compensation remain a persistent challenge, as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) often fail to honour the Commission’s decisions.
“Our rulings face implementation delays due to lack of cooperation from MDAs. We plan to engage these entities to improve compliance,” she said, adding that many complainants also struggle to access essential documentation like death certificates, which hampers case resolution.
Despite the Commission’s efforts to defend its record, MPs insisted on the need for UHRC to realign its priorities, adopt a victim-centred approach, and exercise more courage in confronting violations particularly those allegedly perpetrated by state agencies.
