news 21 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ex-UHRC Accountant Alleges Financial Mismanagement by Chairperson Wangadya
A former top accountant at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has leveled serious accusations of financial irregularities and bypassing controls against Commission Chairperson Mariam Wangadya. The allegations emerged during a parliamentary committee hearing. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ex-uhrc-accountant-accuses-wangadya-of-bypassing-financial-controls-5567048
Margaret Lucy Ejang, who served as the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s (UHRC) Secretary and Accounting Officer for 24 years before her contract ended in March, has detailed alleged financial abuses within the commission. Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on August 21, Ejang described her tenure under Chairperson Mariam Wangadya as the most challenging, citing pressure and intimidation when she questioned financial requests.
Ejang’s testimony came in response to queries from the Auditor General’s 2025 report, including an alleged diversion of Shs70.4 million meant for renovations to purchase furniture. She requested to appear alone due to alleged intimidation and security concerns.
One significant accusation involves the payment of Shs5 million monthly to Chairperson Wangadya as honoraria for tribunal work, despite commission members being full-time employees receiving salaries. Ejang stated this payment was not budgeted for and was not extended to other commissioners, and she felt pressured to approve it.
Further allegations suggest a commission resolution was passed for funds budgeted for the chairperson’s office to be paid quarterly into the personal assistant’s account. Ejang noted that Wangadya notably refused to sign the minutes for these meetings.
Ejang also claimed that some complaints handled by the UHRC were prematurely closed on the chairperson’s direct instructions, bypassing established procedures. She called for a thorough forensic audit of the commission’s finances to uncover the full extent of these alleged irregularities.
Regarding the furniture purchase, Ejang admitted authorizing the fund transfer, citing an urgent need, though acknowledging it wasn’t the originally intended purpose for the funds. COSASE chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi has pledged protection for Ejang and scheduled further hearings with Chairperson Wangadya and other commissioners.