By Aggrey Baba
Hajj Faruk Kirunda, the Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilisation has called on the people of Busoga to remain calm following the imprisonment of Prof. Waswa Balunywa. Kirunda, who also hails from the region, explained that the matter has indeed caused concern across the Nile, but urged Basoga and their friends not to resort to agitation, emphasizing that the case is being handled within the law and will be resolved in due course.
His appeal came in the wake of Balunywa’s arraignment before the Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday, where the former Makerere University Business School (MUBS) principal was charged with abuse of office. The charges stem from the alleged recruitment of three administrative assistants without the proper qualifications, as well as the wider appointment of nearly 200 staff members between 2020 and 2023, appointments which prosecutors argue should have been handled by the MUBS Appointments Committee and not the principal’s office.
Balunywa denied the charges but was remanded to Luzira Prison, with his bail hearing scheduled for Friday, 5th September.
The decision to send him to Luzira landed like a hammer blow in Busoga, where many view him as a pillar of education and leadership. For some, the case feels like a betrayal of the region’s loyalty, fuelling perceptions of neglect and marginalisation.
Local debates and online discussions have been filled with frustration, with residents questioning why such a towering figure should face humiliation after decades of service.
Kirunda’s intervention was therefore timely, aiming to prevent emotions from boiling over. By urging patience, he sought to assure Basoga that justice is being pursued through the right channels. In simple terms, he reminded them that however long the night, the dawn will surely break, and that the law, not the street, should deliver answers.
Prof. Balunywa’s case is now not only a legal battle but also a political test. In Busoga, the arrest of one of their own has shaken confidence and stirred simmering dissatisfaction.
For the courts, the task is to handle the matter transparently, while for leaders like Kirunda, the duty is to keep the community steady.
When one finger touches oil, it smears the others, a proverb goes, and the imprisonment of Balunywa has already spread unease across the region. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
