Attorney General Sam Mayanja has said Mariam Wangadya remains the substantive Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), clarifying that the resignation letter circulating on social media does not in itself amount to her leaving office.
Speaking before Parliament, Mayanja explained that a notice expressing the intention to resign is not the same as an actual resignation.
“A notice to resign does not amount to resignation but is merely intended to communicate the desire to resign and cannot be treated as a resignation,” Mayanja said.
He added that Wangadya will remain the Commission’s chairperson until she submits her resignation letter to President Museveni and he accepts it. Only then will she cease to be the chairperson.
So Mariam Wangadya remains the substantive Chairperson of the Commission until she tenders in the letter of resignation to the appointing officer and her resignation is accepted,” Mayanja added.
He added that there was no leadership or operational vacuum at the Commission, noting that the tenure of UHRC commissioners continues to run on a staggered basis.
“The tenure of UHRC commissioners is still running on a staggered basis, and there is no leadership or operational gap at the Commission,” he said.
Mayanja’s remarks come days after a resignation letter signed by Wangadya circulated widely on social media, prompting reports that she had stepped down as UHRC chairperson.
The letter surfaced on Saturday, a week after Wangadya publicly expressed dissatisfaction with President Yoweri Museveni over appointments to the Commission. She accused the President of appointing individuals who had failed politically, remarks that sparked widespread public debate.
While some critics faulted her comments as inappropriate for the head of an independent constitutional body, others praised her for speaking candidly.
However, according to the Attorney General, Wangadya legally remains the UHRC chairperson until she formally submits her resignation to the appointing authority and the resignation is accepted.
