By Ben Musanje
A resignation letter purportedly written by Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Fauzat Mariam Wangadya has set social media abuzz, coming just days after she made unusually blunt remarks criticizing how commissioners are appointed to one of the country’s most important constitutional institutions.
And the debate over the authenticity and implications of the letter must now be settled with Wangadya herself confirming the authenticity of the letter. On Saturday afternoon, she told Mulengera News its true she had thrown in the towel and that the letter was hers indeed. She said she was waiting to hear from the President who is mandated to either decline or accept the resignation.
For many Ugandans, the development reflects the mounting pressure on the woman who has spent years at the forefront of defending human rights, while now finding herself at the center of an institutional storm.
The letter, dated July 6, 2026, and addressed to President Yoweri Museveni, simply reads:
Re: Notice of Resignation as Chairperson, Uganda Human Rights Commission
“I hereby tender my resignation as Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. I thank you for the opportunity to serve Uganda over the years in the promotion and protection of human rights.”
Signed: Fauzat Mariam Wangadya.
Neither the Presidency nor the Uganda Human Rights Commission had officially spoken out about the letter by the time it began circulating widely online.
Its emergence follows Wangadya’s extraordinary public criticism of the appointment process for UHRC commissioners—a speech many observers described as one of the strongest rebukes ever delivered by a serving head of an independent constitutional body against the very system that appointed her.
She accused the appointing authority of turning the Commission into what she described as a refuge for failed politicians and individuals seeking financial relief rather than selecting people with integrity, competence and credibility.
“You seem to treat the UHRC as a dumping ground for individuals who have been rejected by the electorate, or as a place to reward those who have persistently complained about poverty,” she said, adding that future appointments should prioritize character and independence over political patronage.
Her comments struck a chord across the country, with many seeing them as a rare glimpse into the frustrations inside an institution tasked with protecting citizens’ rights.
But the remarks also exposed a difficult contradiction.
As a presidential appointee herself, Wangadya’s criticism inevitably raises questions about the same appointment process that brought her into office. Some analysts argue that her comments amount to an indictment not only of current commissioners but of the broader system governing constitutional commissions.
The controversy comes as Wangadya faces allegations from three fellow commissioners—Simeo Nsubuga, Col (Rtd) Steven Basaliza and Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru—who have petitioned President Museveni and the Inspector General of Government, accusing her of financial misconduct, abuse of office and maladministration.
The allegations include claims of irregular salary enhancements, questionable procurement decisions and mismanagement of donor funds.
Wangadya has categorically denied the accusations, maintaining that neither she nor the Commission has been found guilty of any wrongdoing and stressing that investigations, if any, should not be mistaken for proof of misconduct.
The timing of the circulating resignation letter has therefore fueled intense speculation over whether it represents a genuine decision to step down or is merely another twist in an increasingly turbulent chapter for the Commission.
Beyond the politics and personalities, many Ugandans see the unfolding events as highlighting a deeper concern—the strength and independence of institutions entrusted with safeguarding constitutional rights.
For ordinary citizens who rely on the Commission to investigate torture, arbitrary detention and other human rights abuses, the uncertainty surrounding its leadership has become a source of growing anxiety.
Whether the resignation proves genuine or not, the episode has placed the Uganda Human Rights Commission under an intense public spotlight and reopened debate about the integrity, independence and credibility of Uganda’s constitutional institutions. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
