Former Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Fauzat Wangadya is facing fresh pressure to publicly apologize to millions of Ugandans living with HIV after her resignation, with the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) accusing her of making stigmatizing remarks that undermine decades of progress in fighting HIV-related discrimination.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Wangadya, CEHURD said it had closely followed her July 3, 2026 press statement on the leadership and composition of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, where she criticized what she described as the appointment of unsuitable individuals to the Commission.
According to CEHURD, Wangadya stated that the Commission had been turned into “a refuge for political failures or individuals who have lost elections as well as those who claim “Ndi mulwadde muyi, waliwo ekimbe kyemaze nakyo emyaka asatu netaaga ARVS,” (I am so ill, with a disease that I have for 30 years and need ARVs.’”
CEHURD argues that the remarks unfairly portrayed people living with HIV as dependent, politically unsuccessful and unsuitable for public office.
“By singling out people on ARVs, your statement unnecessarily associated individuals living with HIV with dependency, political failure, and unfitness for public office. This rhetoric is not only deeply insensitive but also actively promotes harmful stereotypes that Uganda has spent decades trying to dismantle through public education, anti-stigma and discrimination efforts,” said CEHURD executive director Fatia Kiyange.
The organization stressed that HIV status has no bearing on an individual’s ability to perform public duties.
“Living with HIV neither diminishes a person’s competence nor their capacity to serve in public office,” added Kiyange.
CEHURD further reminded Wangadya that the Uganda Human Rights Commission is constitutionally mandated to protect the rights and dignity of every Ugandan, including people living with HIV and other chronic illnesses.
“As a constitutional body mandated to defend the fundamental rights of all Ugandans, the Uganda Human Rights Commission should be at the forefront of protecting the dignity of all citizens, including those living with HIV and other chronic conditions,” noted Kiyange.
The organization said Wangadya’s comments were inconsistent with both Uganda’s Constitution and existing legal precedent.
It cited the 2023 decision in CEHURD v. Pastor Martin Ssempa, where the Equal Opportunities Commission Tribunal ruled that stigmatizing people living with HIV violates Articles 21 and 24 of the Constitution by undermining equality and exposing affected persons to degrading treatment.
“The principles established in the above ruling apply universally, regardless of whether the remarks are made by a religious leader, a public official or any other person,” said Kiyange.
CEHURD warned that comments from someone heading Uganda’s national human rights institution carry far-reaching consequences.
“When a Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission links a medical condition requiring life-saving treatment with incompetence and patronage, it causes profound harm. This discourages people living with HIV from seeking services and emboldens others to discriminate against them,” the CEHURD ED said.
Demands for an apology
The organization has now demanded that Wangadya publicly withdraw the remarks and issue an apology.
Among its demands, CEHURD called on the former UHRC chairperson to publicly retract her statement linking eligibility for public office to HIV status or other chronic illnesses; apologize to the millions of Ugandans living with HIV affected by her remarks; commit herself to promoting the dignity of all citizens in line with the constitutional mandate of the UHRC; and work with health and human rights organizations to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
“We therefore respectfully urge you to publicly retract your statement linking public office suitability to the medical condition and treatment of PLHIV and other chronic conditions,” said Kiyange.
“Apologize to the millions of Ugandans living with HIV who are affected by your statement. Commit to upholding the dignity of all citizens in your public discourse, aligning your communications with the constitutional mandate to protect human rights, particularly the Right to Health.
“Collaborate with health and human rights organizations, such as CEHURD, to ensure that the UHRC actively promotes policies that eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and other chronic conditions.”
Background
The demands come just after Wangadya resigned as Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission following weeks of controversy surrounding her public criticism of the Commission’s leadership and composition.
Her July 3 remarks sparked criticism from sections of civil society, particularly health and human rights advocates, who argued that invoking HIV treatment and antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) as part of a criticism of appointments reinforced long-standing stigma against people living with HIV.
CEHURD says such remarks are especially troubling because they came from the head of Uganda’s principal constitutional institution responsible for safeguarding human rights and protecting citizens against discrimination.
The organization says it now expects Wangadya to respond promptly by retracting the remarks and issuing a public apology.
Meanwhile, fearless Mariam Wangadya previously refused to apologize Muhoozi, and the European Union honored her for her boldness. (See Details Here and There).
