COSASE Orders Arrest Of UHRC Boss Mariam Wangadya After She Skips Parliament Summons

The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered the arrest of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Wangadya after she failed to honour a second summons to appear before Parliament.

COSASE Chairperson Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi directed Parliament’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to locate Wangadya, arrest her and produce her before the committee at 9:00 a.m. the following day.

“I want to instruct our CID to look for Mariam Wangadya, arrest her and bring her before this committee,” Nkunyingi said.

The committee was examining the Auditor General’s report on the UHRC for the 2024/2025 financial year when Wangadya failed to appear.

According to Parliament records, she had been given additional time to attend the committee but did not do so.

Instead, she reportedly communicated through the commission’s Accounting Officer that she would appear before the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee.

COSASE rejected the explanation and described her decision as insubordination and contempt of Parliament.

The committee then invoked Rule 218 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which gives parliamentary committees powers to compel witnesses to appear before them.

The latest confrontation comes amid an ongoing leadership dispute at the human rights commission.

In July 2026, Wangadya reportedly submitted her resignation after raising concerns about presidential appointments to the commission. However, the Attorney General later clarified that she remains the substantive chairperson because her resignation had not yet been formally accepted.

The commission has also reportedly not held a full commission meeting since March 2026.

Wangadya is now expected to appear before COSASE and respond to questions arising from the Auditor General’s report.

COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi orders the arrest and production of UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya before the committee tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.#NilePostNews pic.twitter.com/tnFfx0eZO1

— Nile Post (@nilepostnews) August 10, 2026

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