The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Wednesday suspended proceedings involving the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) after commissioners appeared without the commission's chairperson, Mariam Wangadya.
The commissioners had appeared before the committee to respond to audit queries raised in the Auditor General's 2024 report but instead found themselves answering questions about an apparent leadership vacuum that has paralysed the commission's operations.
Tensions rose after lawmakers asked the six commissioners present about Wangadya's whereabouts and whether she had delegated authority to any of them to represent the commission.
None of the commissioners said they had been authorised to speak on behalf of the chairperson.
"I came in my own capacity," Commissioner Omara Lamex told the committee.
Commissioners Simeo Nsubuga, Shifrah Lukwago and Crispin Kaheru also said they had attended in response to individual invitations and had not been assigned to represent the commission's leadership.
The responses prompted MPs to question whether the constitutional body was operating without effective leadership or coordination.
During the hearing, Commissioner Nsubuga admitted that although the commission is expected to hold monthly management meetings, none had been convened since March 9, 2026.
Lawmakers also heard that the commission's Human Rights Tribunal has not sat since December 2025 because of funding constraints and procedural challenges.
Commissioner Shifrah Lukwago said the commission's rules require only the chairperson to preside over tribunal sittings, making it impossible for hearings to proceed in her absence.
Officials told the committee that the suspension of tribunal sessions has created a backlog of 255 human rights cases that are more than two years old, with the oldest pending case dating back to 2009.
The hearing also highlighted uncertainty surrounding Wangadya's leadership following reports that she submitted a resignation letter to the appointing authority on July 6, 2026.
Acting Secretary and Accounting Officer Leonard Kamadi Byonabye told the committee he had not received any official communication regarding the resignation and therefore could not act on it.
"The meetings of the commission are chaired by the chairperson and I could not convene any meeting without the call from the chair," Byonabye said.
He added that Wangadya had previously been on leave between April and May.
COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyinji suspended the hearing and directed the entire commission, including Wangadya, to appear before the committee on Friday.
He said Parliament would use all legal mechanisms available to ensure public institutions remain accountable.
"We shall not offer any safe haven for entities that do not want to account," Nkunyinji said. "We are ready to employ all legal provisions to ensure all entities appear and answer to the committee."
