By eastafrican gazette
Kampala
Robert Kyagulanyi, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, was compelled to leave the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) where he intended to voice his grievances.
When he was provided with an opportunity to present his complaints, the political leader instead opted to express his distrust in the Chairperson of the Commission Mariam Wangadya and its officers, alleging their allegiance solely to the National Resistance Movement regime instead of serving Ugandans.
Kyagulanyi’s frustration stemmed from a five-year delay in investigating and hearing his complaint, which he submitted in 2019.
These agencies not only confiscated the concert equipment but also infringed upon the rights of individuals, allegedly on the basis of their political affiliation.
Kyagulanyi questioned the commission’s ability to address his concerns regarding human rights violations.
Nevertheless, Wandagya, appearing visibly annoyed, promptly interrupted him and demanded that he either leaves or be forcibly removed, stating that she would not tolerate Kyagulanyi’s attempts to belittle, weaken, degrade, and show disrespect towards the commission.
“If that is a personal statement you are making which is an attack on the commission, you are free to withdraw your complaint. I will not allow you to denigrate, emasculate, demean, and disrespect this commission. If that is a personal statement you are making, you are not going any further,” she noted.
When Kyagulanyi made an attempt to respond, the head of the human rights commission instructed him to communicate through his legal representatives.
Furthermore, she assured him that he would not be given the opportunity to accuse the commission of violating human rights.
“You cannot speak any further, I will ask you to leave,” she noted, as Kyagulanyi continued accusing of impartiality, saying that it lacks independence, and that he had decided to withdraw his complaint from the commission. “This is supposed to be UHRC serving all Uganda, an I wanted to be on record on this,” he added
“I am asking you to leave,” she said while calling in security to take him out.
On December 7, 2018, a complaint was lodged following the obstruction of over 20 music concerts by security agencies.