Robert Kyagulanyi, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has criticized the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) for its handling of missing NUP supporters' cases, calling for an end to the perceived mockery of those seeking justice.
Kyagulanyi expressed his disappointment in Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of the UHRC, and described her as a disgrace to her position. The UHRC recently closed the cases of 18 missing NUP supporters who were reported missing between 2020 and 2023. These individuals were part of a list of 30 names provided by the NUP Secretariat for investigation.
Wangadya revealed that during their investigations, the UHRC was unable to locate 18 out of the 30 missing persons, despite efforts to contact various security agencies and visit detention facilities. She explained that the NUP had failed to provide National Identification Numbers (NIN) to verify the identities of the listed individuals.
The commission acknowledged the significance of the issue but cited uncooperative behavior from the known next of kin of the missing persons as a significant challenge. Some individuals outrightly refused to cooperate with investigators, while others showed a lack of interest in assisting with the investigation, according to Wangadya.
As a result, the UHRC decided to close the cases, deeming further investigation futile.
In response, Kyagulanyi declared that they would continue to seek accountability and justice through both domestic and international channels. He denounced Wangadya's statements insinuating that some missing NUP supporters were 'ghosts' and accused next of kin of being uncooperative and uninterested in pursuing their cases.
NUP leaders hosted families of the missing individuals on Thursday, shedding light on their abductions and continued disappearance over the span of three to four years. The event also emphasized recent abductions and the families' pleas for justice.
Following a press conference, the family members attempted to meet with the UHRC at their head office but were redirected to the regional office in Naguru. Undeterred, the families proceeded to the regional office, providing National IDs and other identification documents for their missing loved ones.
However, Wangadya stated that during their investigations, the UHRC had contacted the listed individuals or their next of kin, who revealed that those who were arrested had been released on police bond or court bail. She noted that only four out of the 12 individuals were willing to have their cases further investigated, with the majority declining to provide statements to the commission.
Wangadya explained that some of the NUP supporters had previously reported cases of alleged torture to the UHRC, but some complainants were uncooperative, changed their narratives, or turned out to be victims of accidents. The reasons behind their refusal to pursue further investigation remained unexplained.
