Tensions Erupt at Human Rights Commission; Wangadya Demands Bobi Wine Retract Complaints

Tensions Boil Over at Uganda Human Rights Commission as Bobi Wine Withdraws Long-Standing Complaint

Kampala, Monday – The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) office witnessed a dramatic confrontation as National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, sought a hearing for a complaint he lodged five years ago. The complaint, dating back to 2018, concerns the state’s cancellation of over 20 of his music concerts, which he alleges were blocked due to his political ambitions and open opposition to President Museveni.

Kyagulanyi invoked Article 28 of Uganda’s Constitution, which ensures the right to a fair, speedy, and public hearing. He criticized the UHRC for its prolonged inaction on his complaint, which also encompasses broader allegations of human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances.

Addressing the tribunal, Kyagulanyi accused the UHRC of failing to protect citizens’ rights and allowing security agencies to act with impunity. He highlighted instances where the commission’s leadership made statements that, in his view, belittled victims and blamed them for the abuses they suffered.

Tensions peaked when UHRC chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, interrupted Kyagulanyi’s remarks, accusing him of disrespecting the commission. She insisted he either withdraw his complaint or cease his accusations against the commission. In a heated exchange, Kyagulanyi expressed his disillusionment with the UHRC’s impartiality and independence, ultimately announcing his decision to withdraw his complaint.

Kyagulanyi’s formal complaint, initially withdrawn on December 10, 2018, detailed specific instances where police blocked his concerts, such as a planned event at Mandela National Stadium in September 2018 and another show in Gulu District’s Smiling Panda on December 2, 2018. Despite organizers meeting all conditions, the police, allegedly acting on orders from above, obstructed the events.

This clash underscores the growing friction between political opposition figures and state institutions in Uganda, raising critical questions about the effectiveness and independence of the UHRC in safeguarding human rights.

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