The Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Mariam Wangadya, expressed that her daily fuel allowance of a mere Shs 20,000 significantly hampers her work. Wangadya, who formerly served as Deputy Inspector General of Government, highlighted the disparity in salaries, noting that as the chairperson, her salary is two-thirds of the deputy head’s salary in the Inspectorate of Government.
Addressing legislators at Parliament, Wangadya stated, “I am receiving a fuel allowance of Shs 20,000 per day, totaling Shs 600,000 per month.” With the current petrol price at Shs 5,500 per liter, this allowance covers only 3 liters per day, requiring her to personally cover the additional expenses.
This financial strain impedes the UHRC’s ability to effectively investigate the escalating human rights violations throughout Uganda.
The UHRC’s primary role is to recommend effective measures to Parliament for promoting human rights, including providing compensation to victims and creating awareness of the constitution’s provisions within society.
Wangadya urged Parliament to allocate an additional Shs 3.756 billion to improve the financial situation of the commission’s staff, who are currently facing financial challenges.
Despite facing pressure to investigate the alleged detention of National Unity Platform (NUP) members in undisclosed locations by security services, Wangadya criticized NUP for submitting a doctored list of missing persons. She emphasized that after thorough investigations, none of the individuals listed were genuinely missing. Some were living abroad, while others were on bail for serious crimes. Wangadya concluded that this led to unnecessary drama and a diversion of the commission’s budget.
Comments are closed.