Nigerian Afrobeat and highlife musician Fela Kuti once observed in his lyrics that those who steal using the pen can steal more than those who steal using a gun. Other writers have similarly described such offenders as professional thieves, conmen and pickpockets.
This observation becomes relevant when examining the growing concerns about corruption and abuse of public office in Uganda. According to police data on crime in 2026, civil servants have reportedly featured prominently among suspects and inmates, particularly during the months of June and July, with many cases involving local government officials accused of white-collar crimes such as embezzlement, corruption and abuse of public trust.
However, while some public officials may have participated in criminal conduct, others may have been wrongly accused or implicated. This is why the principle of the presumption of innocence must remain central to every criminal investigation and trial.
Two important areas of criminology and criminal justice are criminology and penology. Criminology examines crime, including the causes and circumstances that lead people to engage in criminal behaviour, while penology concerns the treatment, correction and rehabilitation of offenders, alongside appropriate punishment.
Under Uganda’s legal framework, particularly the constitutional principle of a fair hearing, an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. This principle should never be swept aside, regardless of how serious the allegations against a public official may be.
About a century ago, American sociologist Edwin Sutherland developed the concept of white-collar crime. His argument challenged the traditional perception that criminality was largely associated with poor people, street criminals and individuals operating outside respectable institutions.
Sutherland argued that people occupying respectable positions could also engage in serious criminal conduct, particularly crimes committed through their professional or occupational positions. His work attracted considerable criticism because, at the time, it was difficult for many people to imagine that respected professionals and public officials could be involved in criminal behaviour.
Over the years, however, the concept of white-collar crime became an important area of criminological study. It demonstrated that criminality does not necessarily depend on social status, occupation or appearance.
The ongoing crusade against corruption and the exposure of suspected corrupt officials has once again brought this debate into the public arena. While efforts to fight corruption should be supported, suspects should not be treated as though they have already been convicted. Arrest, investigation and prosecution are different stages from conviction.
There are also circumstances in which individuals may become involved in wrongdoing because of peer pressure, political influence or misplaced confidence in their connections. A public servant who believes that being related to a powerful politician, local government leader or senior government official will protect him or her from investigation may eventually find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
This is precisely why public servants need legal knowledge.
Criminal law provides accused persons with various legal principles and defences depending on the circumstances of each case. These may include mistake of fact, intoxication in appropriate circumstances, acting under superior orders where legally applicable, lack of criminal intent and other recognised legal defences. Whether any particular defence applies, however, depends on the facts and the law governing the case.
For this reason, I believe that every public servant involved in implementing government policy should seriously consider acquiring legal education.
One does not necessarily have to become a practising advocate. A degree, diploma, certificate or specialised training in law, public administration, administrative law or another relevant area can provide public officials with knowledge of their rights, responsibilities and the legal limits of their authority.
Legal education is increasingly becoming important for anyone working in the public space.
My appeal to civil servants is therefore simple: acquire knowledge of the law before the law catches up with you.
Whether it is a Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, diploma or certificate, legal education can help public servants understand administrative procedures, constitutional principles, public accountability, criminal liability and the consequences of abuse of office.
I am encouraged to see some Members of Parliament and public officials pursuing further education to strengthen their understanding of governance and administration. There is no shame in returning to the classroom. On the contrary, continuous education strengthens public leadership.
I also remember, with some sadness, how General Moses Ali reportedly struggled with his lectures at the Law Development Centre. If a senior public figure such as General Moses Ali could undertake legal studies, why should an ordinary civil servant fear acquiring legal knowledge?
I have personally trained staff in several government institutions on the dangers associated with criminal conduct and the importance of understanding the law. While there may be little immediate reward for simply behaving responsibly, the consequences of misconduct can be severe.
The best protection, therefore, is knowledge.
Rather than waiting until an official is summoned for questioning, investigated or prosecuted, government employees should be encouraged to understand the laws governing their offices from the beginning.
Civil servants should not operate on the assumption that political connections, friendships with powerful individuals or proximity to senior government officials will shield them from accountability. Government watchdogs, investigators and law enforcement agencies can eventually reach anyone suspected of wrongdoing.
This is why I encourage public servants to take legal education seriously. If you can study at the Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala International University, Makerere University, Uganda Christian University or any other accredited institution offering relevant programmes, take the opportunity.
The fight against corruption should not only be about arresting and prosecuting offenders. It should also involve educating public servants about the law, ethical conduct, accountability and the consequences of abusing public office.
My experience as a lecturer in administrative law has reinforced my belief that legal knowledge can make a significant difference in public administration. I am pleased that, to my knowledge, none of the students I taught administrative law at Makerere University has been summoned in connection with the ongoing corruption investigations. The closest case I encountered involved the former Namisindwa Town Clerk for Luwa Town Council, although our records indicate that he studied Public Administration at Makerere University rather than Administrative Law.
Ultimately, the objective should not be to create a fearful civil service. It should be to create a legally knowledgeable, ethical and accountable public service.
As the country intensifies the fight against corruption, civil servants should take personal responsibility for understanding the law governing their work.
Do not wait for an investigation to teach you the law. Go back to school, acquire the knowledge and understand your responsibilities. Legal education may not make anyone immune from accountability, but it can help public servants recognise the boundaries they must never cross.
The writer is the Spokesperson of the Bamasaba Cultural Institution.
