UHRC Chairperson Conducts Human Rights Education at UMA Show Ground - Lugogo

The Chairperson Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Hon. Mariam Wangadya spent the entire part of Friday Morning, which was also Uganda's 64th Independence Day, personally conducting Human rights education to citizens who turned up at the UHRC stall in the ongoing International Trade-fare at Lugogo.

Hon. Wangadya took charge of the UHRC stall and freely entertained questions, complements from random visitors to the stall and she gave out a number of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials as well as Annual and special reports to every citizen who wished to take them. The UHRC through the Public Affairs Division has been at this Trade-fare since Friday 2nd October and it is still there up to the end.

The the Trade-fare, which is annually organized by the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has been running since last Friday (2nd October) and is expected to end this Sunday October 11, 2026.

"I have seen for myself the enthusiasm of the general public; they have asked questions and I have given them answers. At the same time, we have received feedback from them on how they view our performance," she said.

Some of the members of the general public wanted to know how they can start Human Rights advocacy in their institutions of learning and were advised to approach the Commission to give them technical guidance on how to set up Human Rights and Peace Clubs. Others were concerned about the rights of the boy child, sexual embarrassment, previous high-profile arrests and trials among others. Two of the citizens; one from the District local government and another a teacher were concerned about the right to a fair hearing and presumption of innocence which they claim were being risked during during the ongoing anti-corruption operations by the Minister of Local Government Hon. Balam Barugahara. The Chairperson informed them that the Minister's operations are well-intentioned but need he needs to be cautious about the rights and freedoms of suspects. 

Several other citizens just passed-by the stall to encourage and appreciate Hon. Wangadya for standing firm for the protection and promotion of human rights. She encouraged everyone to keep reporting any issue of human rights concern to the Commission and gave out paper-stickers and key-holders containing Toll Free numbers to each one of them.

The Chairperson also issued the Independence Day Message in which she called upon everyone to support the Commission's in it's work. The Uganda Human Rights Commission is mandated under Article 52 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda to conduct human rights and civic education to everyone in Uganda and to receive and adjudicate over human rights complaints from the general public within Uganda.

Attending this Trade-fare is one of the several outreaches the Commission conducts to extend its services closer to the people