From air hostess dream to senior police officer

What makes your job so demanding?
For 10 years, I have gone days without sleep, seeing my family and missed social functions. I register the highest number of GBV cases when a new academic term is beginning and during the harvest season.

Why are these peak periods?
During the harvest, some men grab the farm proceeds. When the term is beginning many men disappear from homes to avoid paying school fees. When their wives press them, fights erupt. Most GBV issues rotate around men’s failure to fulfil responsibilities and expectations.

What expectations?
When women get married, they hope to be taken care of. When such expectations are not met, some are tempted to look for other options. Others believe their husbands are having extra-marital affairs and in anger, deny them conjugal rights and this sparks off beatings.

Does GBV respect class?
I have handled cases involving Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, professors, military and police officers.

Why are GBV cases challenging?
No one wants to deviate from religious or cultural practices regardless of their academic status. You will talk and talk but the person will never change. Also, society sets roles for men and women. Even wealthy women have to be rubber stamped by men.

Tell me about your family?
I have two children, in Senior Four and Primary Three. I separated with their father over six years ago. Yes, I failed to solve my relationship issues but through my office I have reconciled thousands of families.

Are there instances where reconciliation does not work?
There are times when couples have to accept that the relationship has failed. Sometimes, I advise couples to separate for some time or forever, especially when I sense that living together will increase the likelihood of bloodshed.

As a child, what did you aspire to become?
An air hostess or teacher. I graduated from Makerere University with a degree in Education in 2007 but, I applied to join the police. At Kabalye (Police training school), the training was tough. I almost escaped but was held back by South Sudanese and Somali female recruits.

What has been your journey to the Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU)-Police Headquarters?
In 2008, I was deployed as the officer-in-charge Kawempe police station. In 2009, I was made divisional police commander. In 2010, I was appointed deputy commissioner CFPU. In 2015, I became the acting commissioner. In 2018 I was again appointed deputy commissioner.