National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya has strongly criticized Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, revisiting past disputes over how the commission handled complaints filed by the opposition.
Rubongoya said the rule of law is essential for everyone, describing it as “like the air we breathe,” as he responded to recent concerns raised about the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
He said seeing Wangadya “cry about the deliberate destruction of the Uganda Human Rights Commission by the regime” reminded him of how she previously handled complaints submitted by NUP and its supporters.
Rubongoya accused her of dismissing reports about 18 missing NUP supporters, saying she allegedly claimed the individuals did not exist.
He further alleged that she mocked the families of the missing persons, including wives, mothers, and children of Johnbosco Kibalama, John Ddamulira, Mbabazi Moses Kawenja, Kanatta Muhammad, and others, suggesting that the disappearances were staged and referring to the complaints as “katemba” and “kiwaani.”
He also claimed that Wangadya called for the disbandment of NUP foot soldiers, describing them as criminals.
Rubongoya further alleged that the UHRC Chairperson dismissed claims made by the late Marinos Alexandria, who had reported being raped while in detention.
He said that after Marinos fled the country citing threats to her life, Wangadya allegedly claimed she left out of shame.
He also accused the commission of mishandling a complaint by NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), saying that when he personally appeared before the UHRC to present a statement, he was stopped midway and his complaint was dismissed summarily.
Rubongoya concluded that the UHRC has been reduced into what he described as an incompetent institution, incapable of fulfilling its constitutional mandate under such circumstances, adding that the current situation confirms what the opposition has “consistently said.”
He contrasted this with what he described as a sudden change in tone from the UHRC leadership, which he says now acknowledges failures within the institution.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission has not yet responded to the latest allegations.
