UHRC Chairperson Wangadya, NGOs urge security & public against confrontation ahead of 2026 general elections

 As part of the celebration to mark International Human Rights Day Uganda Human Rights Commission together with other stakeholders including the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), Justice Access Point (JAP), UNFPA, Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU), the Torture Survivors Association (TSA), Defend Defenders and the Uganda Law Society (ULS) jointly addressed a press conference on Friday 5th December 2025.

The Chairperson UHRC Hon. Mariam Wangadya said the commission continues to receive a large number of petitions from the public, most of them accusing security operatives of violating human rights.

“I am afraid of the public, especially those who come to our office asking me to resign, saying I have done nothing to solve their challenges,” she said.

Mr. Herbert Samuel Nsubuga, the executive director of ACTV, called on all stakeholders across the country to work towards peaceful campaigns in the run-up to the 2026 polls. He also urged the government to provide adequate funding to the Human Rights Commission to support civic education.

Wangadya recalled an incident where a group of torture survivors and relatives of political prisoners stormed her office and demanded that she leave. She said the confrontation has continued to haunt her, adding that even her child living in China once called to advise her to resign for the sake of her safety.

“At times the media call me for an interview and I fear to respond or I ask you to first send me the questions. This is all because of the fear I have of the public,” she said.

She said that while 99% of the petitions received by the commission accuse security institutions such as the police, UPDF and Uganda Prisons Service, there are also complaints from security officers who say they are sometimes provoked by members of the public, creating situations that result in human rights violations.

Commenting on the wider human rights situation during the current campaign season, Wangadya said every citizen has a responsibility to respect others and to follow the procedures of the Electoral Commission (EC). She noted that some cases of human rights violations have been reported by the National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.

She urged both security agencies and the public to avoid confrontation and to ensure peaceful campaigns ahead of the 2026 general elections.