By Catherine N. Kärnbo
In moments of moral pressure, the question “What would Jesus do?” can sound simple. Yet in today’s workplaces, it may be one of the most demanding questions a person can ask.
The recent actions of Enid Priscilla Katusiime, a customs officer with the Uganda Revenue Authority, have resonated with many, even as some critics dismissed her online. When Katusiime reportedly discovered USD10.2 million hidden in four boxes in a container from a passenger arriving from Turkey, she was allegedly offered a substantial bribe to ignore it. She refused and instead chose to report the truth.
Her decision can be described as patriotic and ethical. At its core, however, it reflects something deeper: a life guided by conviction rather than convenience. This is what we should expect of all public servants and, indeed, anyone in the workplace. Many Ugandans long for better services, and such integrity is essential to achieving that.
WWJD in real life
This is where the question becomes real: what would Jesus do in such a moment? It is easy to ask in theory, but far harder to answer when the stakes are high.
Many work environments operate within unspoken systems of compromise. Decisions are quietly influenced, expectations subtly adjusted, and integrity often negotiated. In such spaces, doing the right thing is not always rewarded; at times, it comes at a cost. While Enid was recognised and rewarded, that is not always the case. The question remains: would we still stand by our convictions?
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches that faithfulness in small things prepares a person for greater responsibility. But faithfulness is not abstract. It is tested in everyday decisions, often unseen, where the easier path is obvious and the right path is costly.
To ask “What would Jesus do?” is to confront a standard that challenges self-interest and calls us to service. Jesus’ example points not to personal gain, but to truth, humility, and obedience, even when it leads to sacrifice.
In practical terms, such faithfulness is expressed through quiet, consistent choices: choosing honesty when dishonesty would benefit you; refusing what is wrong, even when it is normalised; acting with integrity, even when no one else does; and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Reflection
Enid’s example should inspire more Ugandans to stand firm in their convictions and the faith they profess. Our country needs men and women willing to stand against corruption and injustice, realities many citizens encounter daily.
Much has been said about declining trust in institutions and leadership. Yet trust does not only collapse at the top; it erodes in everyday interactions. It weakens when individuals choose convenience over character, and when small compromises are repeated until they feel normal. It also fades when positions meant for service are instead used to display power.
This is why personal integrity matters, not only for individual conscience, but for the wellbeing of society.
It is possible
Katusiime’s example matters not because it is extraordinary, but because it shows what is still possible. It reminds us that integrity is within reach. It is a choice, though often a costly one.
The challenge, then, is not simply to admire such stories from a distance, but to reflect on what they reveal about us. What would we do in that situation? Where have we accepted compromise as normal? Where has our faith remained private when it should have been visible?
To live by the question “What would Jesus do?” is to accept that following Him may not always bring immediate reward. It may mean standing alone, turning down opportunities, or facing misunderstanding.
Living out our faith
For Christians, this is where faith becomes visible, not in words alone, but in decisions made under pressure. Not merely in attending church, but in serving others with integrity in everyday life.
Each of us must ask: what would Jesus do in my workplace, in my position, amid my pressures? And perhaps more importantly, what am I prepared to do because of the answer?
These are the moments that define our witness. They are also the moments that can help restore trust in our institutions and workplaces, one decision at a time.
