The Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has advised the newly appointed Uganda Human Rights Commission-UHRC chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, to dispense justice to all Ugandans without favoritism.
Owiny-Dollo made the remarks on Wednesday evening while presiding over the swearing in of the newly appointed five members of the UHRC and one representative to the Judicial Service Commission, Jimmy Okello at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala.
Those who were sworn in as new members of the commission including their chairperson are Mariam Wangadya, Rev. Father Simon Lokodo, Chrispin Kaheru, Shifra Lukwago, a former opposition politician and Jacklet Atuhaire, the former District Woman MP Sheema district.
The group was appointed last month by President Yoweri Museveni on a contract of four years which can be renewable only once.
During their swearing in ceremony, Owiny-Dollo challenged them to make decisions without fear or favour, saying this country belongs to all Ugandans who are supposed to find peace in it, when their rights provided in the constitution are protected by the human rights body.
According to Owiny-Dollo, the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s decisions carry the force of law and therefore once the decisions are made, they are supposed to be implemented and those who violate them should be brought to book.
The new chairperson Wangadya pledged to protect the rights of Ugandans in line with their mandate.
the secretary to UHRC Margaret Ejang said that they currently have more than 1,000 unresolved cases which arose before and after the recent concluded elections.
She is optimistic however, that they will have the cases completed within six months with the help from their regional tribunals.
