By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa, Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: Tuesday, as a Chief Guest, the Chairperson Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Hon. Mariam Fauzat Wangadya graced the 2025 Makerere University Human Rights Expo organized by the Department of Philosophy in partnership with UHRC, Chapter Four Uganda, NGO Forum, FIDA Uganda, the Norwegian Association of the Disabled, Cross Culture Foundation Uganda, among other partners.
The Chairperson officially opened the two-day expo and the exhibition. She visited different exhibition stalls, including the one for UHRC. Later in the afternoon, Byonabye Kamadi, the UHRC Director of Research, Education and Documentation was part of a panel discussion on the Protection of Electoral Rights in Uganda.
“The observance of human rights begins with respect. Respect for ourselves, for others, and for humanity. If you respect your neighbour, you will not grab their land and render them homeless, violating their right to shelter. If you respect others, you will not take their life, violating their right to life. If you respect others, you will allow them to express their opinions freely without interference,” stated Hon. Wangadya at the 2025 Makerere Human Rights Expo.
“If we continue giving our little ones money or sweets to give their friends at school so that they can be “voted for,” we are promoting corruption and bribery and undermining the principle of free and fair elections. Those children will grow up believing that bribing voters is normal, because that is what they learned from us,” she added.
“Before you swindle money meant for the construction of a school, a road, or a hospital, ask yourself: Am I respecting those who are meant to benefit from it? Before you make empty promises to the electorate just to win their votes, ask yourself: Would I want the same done to me? Before you deny anyone access to a service because of their orientation, ask yourself: Would I be okay with this if it were my own child?”, Wangadya.
