PARLIAMENT, Uganda — The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has come under scrutiny over delays in investigating complaints, inspecting detention facilities and concluding tribunal cases, despite receiving Shs28.95 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.
The concerns were raised by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) during its examination of the Auditor General’s report on the UHRC.
COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi presented the committee’s findings during a plenary sitting on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, chaired by Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth.
The commission’s income increased from Shs18.34 billion in the previous financial year to Shs28.95 billion. Of this, Shs28.87 billion came from the Consolidated Fund, while Shs88 million was generated as non tax revenue.
Despite the increased funding, COSASE found that the UHRC did not fully achieve several targets under its 2020/21 to 2024/25 strategic plan.
Of the 22 strategic plan targets assessed, only 13 were fully achieved.
The commission inspected 1,054 detention facilities against a target of 1,350, leaving 296 facilities uninspected.
COSASE also found that 19% of registered complaints remained uninvestigated.
The commission concluded only 50 cases through its tribunal against a target of 250. It also mediated 49 cases against a target of 400.
The committee said the delays in concluding tribunal cases undermined access to justice during the five year strategic plan period.
COSASE also raised concerns about financial management, procurement, asset management and implementation of the commission’s strategic plan.
It cited delayed recruitment, inadequate funding in some areas and poor allocation of resources, and urged the UHRC to give priority to activities directly linked to its core mandate.
The committee also called for compliance with the Treasury Instructions, 2017, which limit employee compensation to 65% of recurrent expenditure.
On procurement, COSASE questioned the failure to complete Shs70.4 million worth of partitioning works at the UHRC headquarters.
UHRC management told the committee that the money had been redirected to the purchase of office furniture because of plans to relocate the commission to JLOS House in Naguru. However, the committee said management did not provide evidence of the purchases.
COSASE called for full accountability and recommended that the Inspectorate of Government and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions take appropriate action.
The committee further identified discrepancies in the commission’s asset records, including 20 vehicles valued at Shs2.484 billion that had exceeded their five year useful life.
Underutilised land was also highlighted among the asset management concerns.
COSASE also cited internal conflicts among commission members and staff as one of the factors affecting the UHRC’s operations. It recommended legal reforms and action against public officers involved in persistent disputes.
Debate on the committee’s report was deferred to a later sitting.
The findings add to concerns over delays in handling human rights complaints and cases at the UHRC, as well as gaps in the inspection of detention facilities.
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