Nakyobe warns prosecutors against abuse of power

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The Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe, has warned prosecutors in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) against abuse of power, selective prosecution and delayed justice, saying such practices undermine public confidence not only in the institution but also in the state.

“Every time they accuse the government of violating the rule of law, don’t think, it is President Yoweri Museveni, it is you who has been accused. So, act carefully,” Nakyobe warned.

Nakyobe made the remarks during the opening of the annual prosecutors’ symposium at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Monday, May 25, 2026.

“A prosecutor must not be an instrument of oppression, intimidation, extortion or illegal enrichment. You are not there to secure convictions at all costs but to deliver justice in the most fair way possible. Don’t you want to go to heaven, or do you think heaven is here?” Nakyobe remarked.

She noted that the role of prosecutors is to pursue justice fairly, objectively and independently.

“Don’t allow people to influence you. You went to school to study the law and come and practice it in its entirety and with fairness. So, don’t wait for somebody to put you behind the chambers and tell you what to do; otherwise, why did you go to school, or why are you in that profession?” Nakyobe said.

Nakyobe added: “You are in the profession that demands a lot of empathy, but you are there concocting things, you know the law, but you are reading it upside down. Please, why don’t you leave that profession and go into another profession?”

She said professional prosecutors must resist political interference, financial inducements, conflicts of interest, abuse of office, manipulation of evidence and misuse of prosecutorial authority.

“A prosecutor to me is somebody who is very smart, straightforward, and that is the face all of you are portraying now, but I hope the inside also looks like the prosecutor,” Nakyobe noted.

Nakyobe said integrity must guide every prosecution decision. Drawing from the theme of the symposium, Enhancing Professionalism for Responsive Prosecutorial Services, she said professionalism is demonstrated through integrity in conduct, excellence in performance and discipline in service.

“I, therefore, call upon all of you to recommit yourselves to better services,” Nakyobe said.

She also appealed to prosecutors to shun corruption by developing a culture of saying no to corruption.

“The public must see you as officers who will protect the rule of law, defend the victims and hold the offenders accountable. Serve without fear or favour. However, your loyalty must first be to the Constitution, law and the people of Uganda,” Nakyobe said.

She noted that professionalism demands punctuality and diligence. Nakyobe also appealed to prosecutors to respect procedures, proper case management, confidentiality, respect for human rights, objectivity in decision-making and accountability for all the actions they take.

Regarding staffing gaps at the ODPP, Nakyobe promised to escalate the matter to Cabinet for redress.

With evolving crime trends coupled with the digital revolution, Nakyobe urged prosecutors to upgrade their qualifications and enrol in refresher courses to handle their mandate effectively.

“The legal environment continues to evolve. Cybercrime, environmental crime, technological enabled fraud, among other crimes, require you to continuously upgrade your knowledge and skills,” Nakyobe said.

“Therefore, if you have a diploma, get a degree, and if you have a degree, upgrade to a master’s degree. Whoever doesn’t refresh is as good as nothing. These are people who are using old information to judge the news cases. If you can’t upgrade, go back home. Even if the government doesn’t have money, invest in yourself and upgrade,” Nakyobe said.

She added that prosecutorial excellence must extend beyond legal training into specialised areas, including cybercrime investigations, digital forensics, financial intelligence, anti-corruption enforcement, asset recovery and environmental crime.

Using the example of a complaint from a man who contacted her over alleged trumped-up charges in a bid to grab his land, Nakyobe warned prosecutors against colluding with land grabbers to settle scores or facilitate property grabbing, saying such actions are unacceptable and must stop.

“The decisions you make affect people’s liberty, livelihoods, families, reputations, investment, public confidence and ultimately the ability of the state. So, wherever you are making decisions, be very careful,” Nakyobe said.

DPP Lino Anguzu said the symposium was not merely a training event but also an opportunity for self-reflection on performance.

“Therefore, I urge you all to recognise that we are called to enter the public service. Don’t treat your office simply as an employment. Prosecution is a constitutional call to public service,” Anguzu said.

He also urged prosecutors to uphold professionalism.

“Professionalism is your shield from scandal, protects you from impunity and the public. Instead of simply sanctioning charges, we must ask the questions: what is actually happening in the country, and how do we address them? Therefore, treat every file more than pieces of paper,” Anguzu said.

Speaking at the symposium, Wamaitha Kimani, the country director of International Justice Mission (IJM), Paul Woniaye, the director of programme management at Redeem International, Gabby Mercy, the country director of Human Trafficking Institute, and Barbara Kilei, country manager at International Development Law Organization (IDLO), underscored the importance of professionalism in prosecutorial services, noting that it builds confidence in the justice system. They also committed to continued support for the ODPP in achieving its mission of a crime-free society.