Archbishop Kaziimba holds prayers for Nakalema, Anti-corruption team

Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kaziimba on Saturday held prayers for the State House AntiCorruption Unit at their offices on Parliament building in Kampala.

Describing herself as a fierce fighter all through her life, the head of the unit, Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema, together with her team and friends received the archbishop for a "scientific" service in the former ministers' library.

She said due to lots of pressure at their workplace since the country went into COVID-19 lockdown, her team including, 13 Police investigators and call-center workers, hardly get time to sit down and appreciate one another.

Nakalema applauded the archbishop for having helped them have a moment of special joy and for anointing them, especially when he came along with his ‘sceptre', which she said gave them much energy. "We were tired because of the immense pressure.

We receive between 150,000 and 200,000 complaints a day through phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and on other social media platforms and we labour to respond to them. I am always here running after my workers and rebuking them over a number of shortcomings, but I also feel sympathetic towards them for I overwork these people," she said.

Kaziimba asked God to re-energise the unit in its anti-corruption fight. He challenged the workers to remain focused and cautioned them against fighting each other.

Likening Nakalema to Cornelius (Acts 10) who was depicted in the New Testament as a God-fearing man who prayed regularly and gave generously to those in need, Kaziimba credited her for moving in the footsteps of her parents who were God-fearing despite.

"I want to respect the soldiers, but I implore you to take Cornelius's example and remain hospitable, generous to the poor and commit yourself to prayer," he said. 
Kaziimba said like Cornelius, through whom the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, God can use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. He encouraged the team to remain committed even in the face of criticism.

"I am sure Nakalema is getting a lot of criticism from the public for her work but I have told her that God is on her side. Even when nobody appreciates, God does," he said.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

The archbishop, who was accompanied by the Rev. Can. Dr Rebecca Nyegenye, the Provost of All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, was moved by the special recognition of some employees in the unit, including Israel Ochwo, Nakalema's principal legal officer, who she said forfeited a monthly allowance of sh11m at the commission of inquiry into land matters and joined her unit where he is paid sh700,000 after he was recommended by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire.

Others were the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Alice Komuhangi Kaukha; Faith Katana, Joyce Ombanya, Joyce Loyce, SP Jackson Tweheyo, SP Tanga Ogema, Peter Kahigi, Andrew Kaukha, Captain Martin Orach and Amos Ngolobi for their outstanding contribution.