Women in Law Enforcement

Female law enforcement officers sharing their experiences

The integration of women into law enforcement positions can be considered a large social change. A century ago, there were few jobs open to women in law enforcement. A small number of women worked as police officers and/ or security guards, and their assignments were usually limited to peripheral tasks. Women traditionally worked in juvenile facilities, handled crimes involving female offenders, or performed clerical tasks. In those early days, women were not considered as capable as men in law enforcement. Recently, however, many options have opened up, creating new possible careers, so much so that it is easy to run into a police officer or security guard who is female. In this article, we bring to you stories of some female law enforcement officers, who shared their experience with us.

Education for all?

Uganda's Plan for Africa's Refugee Crisis

For years now, the landlocked country has been among those countries hosting the highest number of refugees and offering a safe haven in the midst of trouble spots such as the Democratic Republic Congo and South Sudan. Currently, an estimated 1.3 million refugees reside in Uganda. Since 61% of refugees are minors, the humanitarian crisis affects specifically the young generation. Such circumstances put additional pressure on Uganda’s constrained education system. Uganda has begun to address these issues by focusing its refugee management policies on education and the country has herein developed an internationally-praised action plan. What is the state of refugee education in the developing country Uganda, whose own citizens are already troubled by shortcomings in the education system?

From Work to Working it

Eminent Women in Uniform Share Experiences that Prove They're more than just a Pretty Face

Women are intelligent, creative, strong, self-driven and talented. They are also to be seen beautiful and aesthetic. Why is it, then, that women are often valued based on their looks rather than their abilities or accomplishments? The fact remains that a woman’s identity isn’t based on something as superficial as beauty, and it extends a lot deeper than her appearance. Conversations with the following women who work in the field of technology, engineering, security and state affairs confirm that, indeed, behind a woman’s exterior is a whole plethora of talents and traits - asserting herself in male-dominated occupational fields thus achieving impressiveness.

Uganda’s Rising Middle-Class: A Roaring Lion or a Sleepy Kitten?

Several authors write about Sub-Sahara’s rising middle class as “African Lions” with the potential to drive prosperity . But how does the potential of Africa’s Middle Class really look like? Is a ‘rising African middle class’ overhyped? When describing the economic development of a country, one of the key parameters is looking at the distribution of different income classes, since they provide a lot information about the actual disposable income and economic reality of the population in comparison to the GDP or other macroeconomic measures. ©photo by Jim Joel Nyakaana

Female Prison Officers

Experiences, Needs and Challenges of Women Working in Uganda's Prisons

It is universally known that life in prison has never been easy, but what about the life of female prison officers? What are their experiences, challenges and needs? With long working hours and shifts that may begin one morning and end the next, scheduling family outings and household chores while at the same time performing well at work may not be easy for these women in uniform.

The Medical Field

How Female Health Workers Have Changed the Face of the Industry

Women have always been healers. As mothers and grandmothers, women have always nursed the sick in their homes. As midwives, women have always cared for people in their communities. Yet, when medicine became established as a formal profession globally, women were shut out. However, they didn’t seat back and look on, but rather waged a long battle to gain access to medical education and hospital training. Since then, women have overcome prejudices and discrimination to create and broaden opportunities within the profession. Gradually, they have been able to carve out successful careers in every aspect of medicine. This article highlights the significant contributions that women have made to the health care system in Uganda by narrating stories of female doctors who work tirelessly, every day, to improve the country’s health sector with tremendous dedication, vigor, and passion.

Why so few?

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

It is no secret that the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are predominantly male with historically low women’s participation. The continued existence of gender disparity in STEM fields over the years has formed one of the major themes in social and academic investigation. Brian Mutebi and Owen Wagabaza explore some of the reasons behind the smaller numbers of women in STEM.

Book review: Becoming by Michelle Obama and Women in STEM Careers by D. Bilimoria & L. Lord

Publication of Arise Magazine

The Arise Magazine is a journal of KAS Uganda and ACFODE (Action for Development) focusing on Women's Development. Below is an article of the two book reviews of Becoming by Michelle Obama and Women in STEM Careers by D. Bilimoria & L. Lord

Is raising a family Mission Impossible for women in uniform?

A case of women in the Uganda Police Force

"As female police officers, we try as much as possible to make family life a priority. For starters, our earnings have to contribute to the family’s overall happiness and well-being. There, your efforts get to be appreciated,” says Anita. “And when it comes to finding balance, there will be sacrifices you have to make in your career for your family. However, it doesn’t mean you have to give up what you love. The most important thing is to find a satisfying career that allows you to be happy in all aspects of your life — especially at home withyour family,” she adds.

Kabake in Palabek

Strengthening Relations between Refugees and Host Communities in Uganda

It's a Friday afternoon in the dry month of March in Northern Uganda. Under the scorching heat of the sun, 300 South Sudanese refugees from Palabek Refugee Settlement site and their host community members gathered at Palabek Ogili Trading Centre to deliberate and critically reflect about both the challenges and opportunities embedded in the dynamic and the evolving nature of their relationships.