KATUMBA WAMALA: Don’t fear Balaam if you are innocent

What the report says

Minister of Public Service Gen. (Rtd) Edward Katumba Wamala has said public servants should not fear Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s anti-corruption drive if they have acted honestly and can account for their work. Speaking in Gulu City on Thursday during a meeting with local government leaders from the Acholi Sub-region, Katumba responded to complaints that Balaam’s campaigns had made some officials anxious about possible arrests and public scrutiny.

According to The Independent Uganda, the concerns were raised by Agago Resident District Commissioner Nabinson Kidega Nok, who said the approach had left some staff fearful even where no wrongdoing had been proven. Katumba said Balaam’s interventions are typically informed by reports and investigations from oversight bodies such as the Inspectorate of Government, the Auditor General and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, as well as whistleblower information. He urged officials to cooperate with anti-corruption systems rather than resist them, while also stressing that any accusations should be supported by evidence and handled through due process.

The Gulu meeting also brought together chief administrative officers, mayors, district chairpersons, commissioners and human resource কর্মকর্তারা from the region. Beyond the anti-corruption discussion, leaders raised administrative challenges including delays in moving records from IPPS to the Human Capital Management system, limited wage allocations, slow approval of District Service Commission members and shortages of office space in Gulu City and Gulu District. The session also covered service delivery and recent public service directives.