Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has been thrust into controversy following allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office against its chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, and other senior officials.
According to the petition, commissioners accuse Wangadya of authorizing irregular National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions despite allegedly being ineligible under existing public service guidelines.
The petition claims that Wangadya joined the Commission in September 2021 at the age of 56, an age at which, the commissioners argue, she was not eligible for government NSSF contributions.
They allege that she nevertheless directed the Human Resources department to continue remitting a 10 percent government contribution on her behalf.
The commissioners also allege that Wangadya irregularly allocated Shs 2 billion from the Commission’s Shs 10.4 billion budget to enhance salaries for herself, fellow commissioners, and members of staff.
Further allegations relate to the procurement of high-end vehicles and 60kVA generators for private residences of senior officials, reportedly costing about Shs 160 million.
The petition additionally claims that Commissioner Crispin Kaheru requested Shs 44 million to install a generator at his residence, although the request was reportedly rejected.
The commissioners also accuse the chairperson and senior officials of undertaking excessive foreign travel, alleging that trips to the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Nairobi were treated as money-making ventures rather than official assignments. They have called for the travel expenditures to be investigated.
The allegations contained in the petition have not been independently verified, and neither Wangadya nor the officials named had publicly responded to the claims at the time of publication.
If substantiated, the allegations could trigger investigations into the management of public resources at the constitutional body, which is mandated to promote and protect human rights in Uganda.
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