Miriam Wangadya, the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), has informed that Uganda faced obstruction from attending human rights meetings in Geneva subsequent to the closure of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Uganda. This closure occurred in August 2023 following Uganda’s decision not to renew its operational agreement with the UN body.
Additionally, it has been revealed that Geneva is dissatisfied with Uganda’s human rights record, which has reportedly worsened during Wangadya’s tenure. Consequently, Wangadya and her team, scheduled to travel to Geneva in June, have been informed of their unwelcome status.
Presenting the commission’s budget for 2024/25 before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Wangadya disclosed that Uganda’s human rights standing is anticipated to be downgraded this year.
During the session, Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) criticized the commission for its apparent inaction when the government expelled key funders such as the Democratic Government Facility (DGF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Niwagaba highlighted the irony of the commission now lamenting about limited funding while remaining silent on these matters.