The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) faced sharp criticism from lawmakers on the Legal Committee over its proposed budget for the 2025/26 financial year, with concerns ranging from inadequate compensation for victims of human rights violations to the allocation of funds for presidential portraits.
Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality) led the charge, questioning the commission's practice of awarding relatively small compensation amounts.
"I want to understand why these days your Commission is not making bigger awards to victims of human rights violations because by this simple calculation means these 16, on average, each received Shs30 million on average," Basalirwa said.
"But you are talking about Shs30 million and what are the human rights violations? In your own document, you are talking about torture. So, somebody is tortured, comes before tribunal and is awarded Shs30 million on torture."
The legislator said awards between Shs100 and Shs200 million better reflected the severity of the violations.
Adding to the controversy, Jonathan Odur (Erute South) raised eyebrows over the UHRC's plan to purchase 40 presidential portraits.
"Forced disappearances, abductions, arrests by whatever then has been done by the military and many of them happened here in the Central and I find it surprising that the Commission now chose to go and visit the detention facility in Gulu yet here, which is the epicentre of all this here in Buganda, here in the central, you didn’t visit," he said.
"And if you look at the cases of people who have been taken to court and others have been dumped in many places, they have been tortured. Could we have an explanation, why the Commission all of a sudden found to run away from the core issue of visiting the Military detention centres?"
Odur suggested the commission was straying from its core mandate.
Mariam Wangadya, chairperson of the UHRC, defended the commission's actions, stating that in 2024/25, they visited 303 detention facilities across the country.
However, her report did little to quell the lawmakers' concerns.
"You visited military detention, did you enlist if there are civilians in those Detention centres. Time spent and the cases which they are answerable to. Have you recommended the prosecution of any military officer for gross humanrights violations?" Santa Alum inquired.
Anna Adeke raised concerns about impartiality, citing the actions of Commissioner Simeo Nsubuga.
"Why is the commission members impartial ie Commissioner simeo Nsubuga has been seen in political rallies with the prime minister Nabbanja. While you are contesting in 2025, you are expected to still be impartial. Can we now say you are partisan and partial," she asked.
Bugweri County MP's Abdu Katuntu added to the criticism by asking, "How do you justify rosy pictures when all is not when? We were not taught that. Why do you deserve a better budget? Who tells you to beat up journalist and go to Americans to deal with the investigations.
"People who are on remand. Some one is on remand for 20years. And you are fitted comfortably without trial of this man."
John Teira demanded accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses.
"We need the perpetrators of these humanrights violations. You found many detainees on remand so what are you doing about it. We need to know these individuals," said Teira.
"Do you think you are a good to place for redress over humanrights abuses. Courts are violating the right to bail or by intentionally refusal. There is a lot of refusal to consideration of bail. Have you paid attention to people detained until today they the Supreme Court matter of Kabaziguruka set them free," Teira said.
David Livingstone Zijan, the Butembe County MP, questioned the choice of focusing on Gulu.
"What informed your choice of Gulu? What was your finding and does it give a representation of the entire country. Does the education of the media to report sensitively yet they are victims of humanrights other than the security forces.
"Do you also seek to train the violators or JATT on how to handle the media in the spirit of humanrights. Or you can't face the perpetrators themselves?"
Wangadya responded by acknowledging the need for a budget that aligns with the commission's mandate.
"I think we should conceed that our mandate must relate with the budget fairly. Humanrights issues should attract a big budget. We have now learnt but the director of research can answer why the directorate takes the lions share.
"We undertake to increase allocations in investigations and complaints registrations. Conceede that the development budget has become more important than core mandate. We have no capacity to tell who are political prisoners. Maybe the public may judge. We were pertabbed by the bail terms by court on Eron kiiza," she said.
The heated exchange underscores the growing scrutiny of the UHRC's operations and its ability to effectively address human rights violations in Uganda, especially as the 2026 elections approach.