By Nanteza Ruth Walusimbi
JINJA
The chairperson of Uganda Human rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya has commended government and Parliament for enhancing the commission’s budget which she says will help in its operations.
She made the revelation during the commission’s session for Busoga Subregion held on Tuesday, 10TH June, 2025 at its premises along Bell Avenue in Jinja city.
While speaking to the press during the session, Wangadya revealed that 19 cases were to be handled after the commission embarked on intense hearing to reduce on the backlog adding that the regional sessions started from Fort portal, Jinja and Karamoja and Hoima will follow.
“We are here to handle cases in Busoga sub region and among the cases handled is alleged violation of rights to freedom from torture, personal liberty and right to life. We commend government for enhancing our budget to enable regional sessions to clear the case backlog” said Wangadya.
Wangadya also revealed plans to intensify civic education and hearing of cases of Human rights abuses to reduce on the case backlog at the commission.
“We have embarked on intensive hearing and this week alone we are going to dispose off seven out of the nineteen cases so very soon there will be no backlog,” reiterated Wangadya.
However, some of the complainants in the session castigated the commission of unfairness.
Among them is Hajji Walibonaki Ibrahim, a resident of Kabwangasi Town council Butebo district who spoke on behalf of others in a case they reported to the commission against the Attorney General and Saleh Kamba of involvement in their beating by security operatives during a by-election in 2007.
“In 2007 during a by-election for Pallisa District chairperson between Issa Bantalib Taligoola-an independent and NRM’s Patrick Mutono we were flogged by security officers leading to death of one of our colleagues but the tribunal has dismissed our case after 18 years of searching for justice”.
Relatedly, Babalanda Uthman from Bukatube Sub country in Mayuge district also castigates the commission for the delay in ensuring his family gets justice for their father.
“Police officers from Mayuge police station arrested my father Sajabi Mustafah who they tortured and died in custody on the 2nd of October 2022 and later buried in Kampala in a cemetery without informing his relatives but we have not got justice,” he says.
