Akullo: The lady behind top investigations

Kampala

It is 7am, the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Directorate (CIID) is still quiet. Outside the office of the director, a group of people are already lined up, hoping to meet her before her busy schedule begins.

A silver double cabin pick-up truck with a police number plate drives into the parking. First to emerge is a young man clad in a black uniform -he is from the Counter Terrorism Unit. He opens the door to the back seat and a dark-skinned medium sized lady about 5.5 feet emerges.

She is smartly dressed in a black skirt and red blouse, she looks elegant, carries an expensive handbag and holds her hair in a neat fold. Not a trace of makeup can be seen on her face but her fingers and toe nails are lightly vanished.

Making simple strides and taking time to absorb her surrounding, this lady moves to the queue. Most of those waiting recognise her, some beginning to pave way for her to pass.
She has served the Uganda Police Force for more than 10 years, but Grace Akullo only became famous three months ago when she took on high-profile corruption cases, her first case involving Geoffrey Kazinda, a principal accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Unlike many people in her position, Akullo takes the time to ask all those queued up at her office what their concerns are. Although her schedule is tight, the CIID director knows that people need her help and thus she assigns detectives to help solve their problems or direct them to concerned offices.

Akullo is a jolly lady, who talks loudly, her words not necessarily emphasising her authority and for each complaint or point made, she has a story to tell and she will narrate the stories in brief. To many, this is what shows that she is experienced and has served the country for long.

By the time madam (as most detectives and journalists prefer to address her) walks into her office, everyone around the premises is smiling, with just a handshake or question of concern having made their day.

Like it is her routine, the CIID director will then summon all detectives for a meeting.
This particular day (Thursday), there are a number of arrests of senior officials in the Ministry of Public Service including the Permanent Secretary, Jimmy Lwamafa, to be effected and shortly after the meeting, two police cars followed by Akullo’s move out of the CIID headquarters and head to Wandegeya.

Fearless lady
Such operations that include arresting top government officials are seldom effected by a woman in Uganda. Fearlessly, Akullo enters the premises, and for four hours, she and her detectives are held up in the Public Service offices. She later emerges and enters her car. Behind her are four big wigs in the ministry; Lwamafa, Christopher Obey, the principal accountant, pension, Kiwanuka Kunsa and Francis Lubega.

In question is up to Shs63 billion pension money, the biggest corruption case in the country’s history. The next destination is her office. A group of lawyers to the suspects are outside her office, requesting for her mercy. But with her jolly and soft-spoken tone, she remains principled and takes a stand. “Give my boys time to do their work please,” she says, smiling.

In her office, a stack of papers and files have taken up three quarters of the space, yet more files continue to be brought in.

Akullo prefers to sit on a sofa as she peruses through different files and will only switch her attention to welcome us after she has duly absorbed what she is reading. She flashes a welcoming smile and asks us to take a sit in another sofa, making it known that she has a few minutes of interaction. Her presence at the headquarters, although it comes off as a call for a busy day, is, however, not dreaded by the detectives, who commend her motherly character.

Having raised 13 children, four biological, three steps and six adopted, it is no surprise that Akullo treats all detectives as her own children. When you enter her office, the motherliness is evident -a picture or two of her children framed around.

Even on a busy day, at 6pm, she has to pick one of her children from school. She proudly talks of her children, comparing her childhood to theirs, hinting on how she will go an extra mile to ensure that all her children have equal privilege.

Stephen Kiwanuka, who met Akullo at parents’ meetings and visitation days at Gayaza High School and later became her friend, describes her as one of the few caring mothers: “When it comes to studies, she will leave no stone unturned. She is tough but will always seek to know what is wrong once her child is performing poorly.”

Born 43 years ago in Arwot Nyap Village in Dokolo Town Council, Akullo dreamt of fighting crime, a dream that was fulfilled on August 18, 2001 when she joined the Force.
According to Akullo, her motivation was to serve the people. She has steadily risen through the police ranks, having been recently promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) to become the only lady among eight AIGPs.

Nathan Osinde, a lawyer to six of the 17 pension scam suspects, describes Akullo as a civil lady who has harmonised the relationship between detectives and suspects: “She is a lady of few words and does not take advantage of her position.”

Top investigations
Akullo is also remembered for her role in the commission of inquiry into the Kasubi Tombs fire as the commandant of the Special Investigations Unit. Her investigations career dates back to Old Kampala Police Station where she was OC CID, leading investigations into the Gavi Funds scam, where she arrested then ministers; Mike Mukula and Jim Muhwezi.

She also handled investigations into the Pastor Kayanja sodomy case which earned her both friends and enemies among the Pentecostal denomination, with complaints of unfairness and bias arising. Akullo’s determination has won her admiration from her juniors, who see her as an inspiration.

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