KIBUKU — Kabweri County Member of Parliament Patrick Godfrey Wakida has written to the State Minister for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere, expressing concern over the manner in which anti-corruption operations are being conducted in Kibuku District.
In a letter dated August 16, 2026, Wakida said he supports the Government’s efforts to fight corruption, waste and abuse of public resources but criticised what he described as the use of intimidation, public humiliation and disorder instead of established accountability mechanisms.
The MP said he had received reports of health workers at various health centres being publicly harassed and some arrested in circumstances that, he argued, undermine the dignity and morale of frontline staff.
He also raised concern over reports that parish chiefs and local council leaders had been summarily ordered to leave their offices without due process and in public forums.
Wakida further alleged that teachers had been arrested in what he described as a “dehumanising manner” in the presence of learners and members of the community.
“Corruption must be fought. But the fight against corruption cannot itself become a tool of intimidation, political showmanship and administrative chaos,” Wakida wrote.
He said the Local Government Act, Public Service Standing Orders and the Constitution provide procedures for investigation, interdiction, arrest and disciplinary action, warning that bypassing such structures could erode institutional accountability.
According to Wakida, the approach could also demoralise public servants already working under difficult conditions and create a perception of selective or populist enforcement rather than systematic reform.
He warned that such actions could ultimately undermine the very services the Government seeks to protect, particularly health, education and local governance.
“There is a better way,” the MP said, proposing that anti-corruption investigations be handled through established institutions, including the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Police, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) and District Service Commissions.
He called for due process to be respected, saying allegations should be investigated and accused persons given an opportunity to be heard before public sanctions are imposed.
Wakida also urged authorities to protect service delivery, particularly at health centres and schools, arguing that citizens would suffer most if public institutions were disrupted in the name of fighting corruption.
He said the fight against corruption should be firm but also respectful and lawful, adding that this was necessary to build public trust.
The MP has consequently asked Minister Nameere to desist from direct administrative actions that, in his view, usurp the mandate of statutory bodies and to refer ongoing cases to the relevant authorities for proper handling.
“Our duty is to fight corruption without destroying the morale of public servants or the institutions meant to serve our people. Populism is not a substitute for good governance,” Wakida said.
He also offered to meet the minister and other stakeholders to agree on what he described as a lawful, coordinated and respectful approach to the fight against corruption in Kibuku District.
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