I respectfully appeal to my senior colleague and brother, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, to coordinate his anti-corruption mobilisation rallies closely with the Inspectorate of Government (IG) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
Their direct involvement ensures that public complaints are professionally assessed, evidence is systematically gathered, and appropriate legal action follows.
While these rallies give citizens an important platform to expose wrongdoing, allegations raised from a podium must be treated as complaints requiring investigation, not immediate proof of guilt. An allegation alone should never become a sentence delivered before a cheering crowd.
Many Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) have fought difficult battles against land grabbers and corrupt officials, making powerful enemies in the process. My concern is that malicious actors could exploit anti-corruption rallies to settle personal scores against officers who previously frustrated their illegal interests.
For instance, a land grabber could mobilise or pay individuals to make false claims against an RDC who stopped an unlawful eviction. If those accusations trigger an immediate public arrest without prior verification, the rally risks becoming a weapon against the very public servant protecting the community.
The same vulnerability exists in district procurement. While unsuccessful contractors may have legitimate grievances that deserve investigation, aggrieved bidders might also seek revenge by sponsoring public accusations against technical officers and members of contracts committees.
We must clearly distinguish between genuinely exposing corruption and weaponising the anti-corruption drive to humiliate individuals—what is locally known as “okulabisa” or “okulagako.”
Throughout my service as an RDC, I have mediated complex disputes involving political leaders, technical officers, contractors, and community members. Such conflicts frequently tempt aggrieved parties to frame their opponents as corrupt or incompetent. However, a confident speaker, a loud accusation, or an excited crowd can never establish legal truth.
Hon. Balaam, I ask that you receive this perspective in the spirit of brotherhood and our shared commitment to public service. Your mobilisation efforts will be far more impactful when backed by credible investigations and due process.
IG and CID officers should be present at these rallies to receive complaints, record statements, examine documents, and determine appropriate next steps. Where evidence supports wrongdoing, authorities must act firmly. Where accusations prove malicious, the innocent must be protected.
This concern extends to the broader practice of publicly parading civil servants before investigations conclude or courts make a determination—a trend previously seen during high-profile State House anti-corruption operations under Col. Edith Nakalema.
An arrest immediately dominates headline news, but a subsequent clearance or court acquittal rarely receives the same coverage. As a result, a civil servant’s name can remain publicly tarnished long after they have been exonerated. Anyone searching the officer’s name online years later will likely encounter initial arrest reports without the eventual outcome. Professional partners, future employers, relatives, and in-laws may continue to judge them based on unproven accusations.
The fallout extends far beyond the individual officer; careers, livelihoods, families, and children suffer lasting damage that a late finding of innocence cannot easily repair. Media houses and investigating bodies must therefore accord equal publicity to the final outcomes of these cases, particularly when individuals are cleared or acquitted.
Uganda urgently needs a firm, effective fight against corruption—one rooted in evidence, fairness, and structural accountability.
Let the rallies gather complaints. Let investigators establish the facts. Let the courts determine guilt. This balanced approach will build public confidence, safeguard innocent public servants, and ensure that real offenders are held fully accountable.
About the Author:
Kasibante Hassan is a public administrator and veteran Resident District Commissioner (RDC) in Uganda, specializing in local governance, community mobilization, and public service management.
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