By KT Reporter
The Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Miriam Wangadya, has attributed the backlog of cases at the commission to inadequate government funding. Speaking at a press briefing in Soroti City after a three-day tribunal that handled cases pending since 2009, Wangadya said the commission’s ability to function effectively is crippled by insufficient resources.
This financial shortfall, she explained, has resulted in prolonged delays, with some cases unresolved for more than a decade. “We are not provided with the necessary resources promptly to allow us to hear these cases effectively,” Wangadya said.
“The commission has many requirements that necessitate funding to operate. We need money to convene sessions, provide transport refunds to complainants, cover hotel accommodations and meals, facilitate process servers to deliver summons and hearing notices, and support our staff in conducting investigations, interviewing witnesses, and retrieving exhibits. Without this funding, our operations are adversely affected.”
She further noted that the death of former Chairperson Hajji Medi Kaggwa in 2019, followed by two years without a fully constituted commission, worsened the backlog. In addition to funding gaps, Wangadya said some complainants frustrate the process by abandoning their cases. “Many people bring cases here as a way to evade their criminal responsibilities. For instance, individuals convicted of theft may open a case against the Attorney General claiming wrongful detention, only to vanish afterward, leaving the commission struggling to locate them,” she explained.
Despite these challenges, Wangadya expressed optimism, saying government is in the process of adjusting the commission’s budget to support more efficient operations. “Very soon, the backlog of cases will be a thing of the past, and delayed justice will become a rarity,” she said.
As evidence of progress, she revealed that six cases have already been resolved, and more are being fast-tracked. However, some residents remain frustrated. James Ubura, from Eastern Division in Soroti, recalled how police allegedly shot his brother’s children in 2008.
“We filed the case to this tribunal, but since 2008, we have not received any justice,” he said, urging the commission to expedite hearings. Juventine Omoja from Serere District, whose case was dismissed, also expressed dissatisfaction. “We filed a case against police in Serere in 2013, after we were beaten and wrongfully accused of cattle theft. Despite being found not guilty in court, our case was dismissed due to an error in our names. We are prepared to appeal,” Omoja said.
During the Soroti tribunal, the UHRC addressed 18 matters lodged between 2009 and 2013. Of these, the commission delivered two rulings, made six decisions, dismissed five cases, and continued hearing five others—underscoring the urgent need for timely justice for complainants.
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