The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday, January 12, 2026, hosted Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, Director of Africa’s premier Rotary Peace Center and Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Makerere University, Uganda, during an official engagement held at the Commission’s Conference Room on the third floor of Integrity House in Freetown.
Welcoming the distinguished guest, the Commissioner of the ACC described the visit as timely and significant, noting its relevance to the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen integrity systems and improve governance in Sierra Leone. He reaffirmed the ACC’s commitment to building sustainable partnerships with the Rotary Peace Center and Makerere University, particularly in the areas of research, leadership development, and capacity-building for staff.
In her remarks, Professor Nkabala conveyed warm greetings from the leadership of Makerere University and its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. She commended the ACC for its notable progress in promoting accountability and public integrity, and highlighted the critical role universities play in supporting governance institutions. According to her, Makerere University has deliberately shifted from being “an ivory tower” to engaging directly with communities, emphasizing that peacebuilding begins at the community level.
Professor Nkabala expressed strong interest in collaborating with the ACC through institutional exchanges, specialized professional training programmes, and the development of courses aligned with the Commission’s mandate, particularly in integrity management, leadership, and governance reform.
She also held an interactive session with ACC management, including Directors and Deputy Directors, focusing on leadership, peacebuilding, ethics, and anti-corruption strategies. During the discussion, she highlighted the contributions of recent Rotary Peace Fellows from Sierra Leone, noting that they had been equipped with skills in mediation, negotiation, and conflict transformation—competencies she described as vital to strengthening the Commission’s work.
Chairing the engagement, the Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, welcomed the growing relationship between the Commission and Makerere University. He reiterated the ACC’s readiness to explore opportunities for academic collaboration, staff exchanges, and targeted capacity-building initiatives.
The Deputy Commissioner further explained that the ACC’s mandate centers on prevention, public education, and enforcement, with prevention as a key priority. He identified social safety nets, asset declaration, and accountability systems as areas where structured academic partnerships and professional training would add significant value.
As part of her visit, Professor Nkabala is scheduled to tour the ACC’s Eastern Regional Office in Kenema to gain insight into regional operations. She will also engage with leadership and faculty at Eastern Technical University and Fourah Bay College, where discussions will focus on doctoral scholarship opportunities, academic collaboration, and institutional partnerships.
The visit is expected to deepen cooperation between Sierra Leone and Makerere University, while reinforcing the link between anti-corruption efforts, peacebuilding, civic education, and sustainable national development.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wedneday, 14th January 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
