Ms Diana Nakato, a Superintendent of Police in Uganda’s Gender and Women Affairs Department, overcame personal and professional challenges to rise through the ranks, advocate for gender equality, and inspire women in the force.

Ms Diana Nakato, a Superintendent of Police and administrator in the Uganda Police Force’s
Department of Gender and Women Affairs, has built a career defined by perseverance, resilience, and commitment to gender equality.
As a devoted mother of two, she has faced her share of challenges, including a pivotal moment that nearly cost her marriage—traveling to Ghana to pursue a master’s degree without informing her husband. Despite the difficulties, she remains steadfast in her belief that determination and divine guidance have been the driving forces behind her success.
Born in Kampala as a twin and the daughter of a police officer, Nakato grew up in various districts across Uganda due to her father’s frequent transfers. Her primary education began at Naguru Katale Primary School before she moved to Church of Uganda Primary School in Kaliro.
For secondary education, she attended Dabani Girls High School in Busia and later completed her A-Level studies at Bubulo Girls School, Mbale in 1992. Determined to pursue higher education, she enrolled at Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development in Mpigi District, where she obtained a diploma in Social Works. However, upon graduation, she faced uncertainty about her career path.
“I kept asking myself, ‘What am I going to do?’” she recalls. Without job prospects or an internship, she expressed her desire to move to Kampala. But her father, now retired, was against the idea and promised to open a shop for her in the village.
“My father was protective. He didn’t want me to struggle. But I didn’t want to stay in the village because it had limited opportunities,” she explains. With the help of her brother, who was a student at Makerere University Business School, she found a small room in Kampala where she would pay Shs45,000 per month for rent — a large amount at the time.
While searching for jobs, she encountered several setbacks, including exploitative employers in the NGO sector, before an unexpected opportunity in law enforcement changed her course.
A neighbour, who worked as a personal assistant to a minister, shared a police recruitment advertisement with her.

Joining Uganda Police
“I had never considered joining the police because of the rigorous training,” Nakato admits. However, the advertisement was for an administrative position in the Signal Department, which handles police communications. The job required candidates with a diploma in human resource management or social work.
She applied and was short-listed, however, her father was displeased at the idea. “He never wanted us to join the force; he had been in the force for a long time and he knew what officers go through,” she explains. Out of thousands of applicants, only 12 were selected and she was one of them. They then underwent nine months of training.

Police training experience
“The hardest part was waking up early to jog around Kibuli Town,” she remembers. Nakato recalls meeting Judith Nabakooba (now the Minister for Lands), who was in the cadet course, and with whom she shared a dormitory.
Their training involved learning administrative work, police communication, and operational protocols. After six months at Kibuli, they were sent to Masindi for military training, which w a s e v e n more rigorous.
“We trained under harsh conditions, including night drills and surprise enemy attack simulations,” she recalls.

“Sometimes, we had to sing through the night while being drenched in cold water or suddenly move into the bush with all our luggage,” Ms Nakato narrates.
Despite the challenges, she completed the training and graduated with the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), after which she was posted to police headquarters in the radio communication room.

Career growth and education
At Kibuli, Ms Nakato supervised senior female officers in the communication room, which transmitted police messages via fax, telephone, Morse code, and radio systems.
By 2005, she realised that a diploma was insufficient for her career aspirations. She then applied to Makerere University Business School (MUBS) for a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management. “I had to attend evening classes after work,” she says.
The financial burden was immense, as she earned only Shs210,000 per month, but she persevered, graduating in 2009.
She later requested a transfer to the Human Resource Department to apply her skills. Her role involved recruitment, transfers, manpower audits, and disciplinary hearings.
Despite her achievements, by 2013, she felt stagnant in her career. Seeking a new challenge, she applied for a master’s degree in Gender, Peace, and Security at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana.
“Work started becoming boring for me. I was no longer seeing any growth opportunities, and frustration crept in. I felt like I was settling for less,” she shares. She had two children. Financial constraints made the decision daunting, but she was determined.
After securing admission, she needed $6,000 (about Shs22 million) in tuition fees. She sought help from her brother, which allowed her to take the first step.
“That single decision to pursue further education changed my life. It positioned me for greater opportunities
and solidified my place in the Uganda Police Force,” she says.
After graduating in 2021, she was transferred to the gender department, where she was later appointed administrator. She played a key role in drafting work plans and coordinating activities that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment within the institution.

Advocating for gender equality
“We have organised seminars and workshops focusing on male engagement —educating male officers on the importance of gender equality in the force. There is often a misconception that female involvement solely benefits women, but this is not the case. For the institution to achieve effectiveness, inclusivity is key,” she shares.
She emphasised that policing has transformed to incorporate digital intelligence gathering, forensic science, and community policing — fields where physical strength is not the main factor.
“Unless women demonstrate their capability and willingness to take up such roles, men will continue to dominate these positions.
Women must challenge this norm, stepping out of their comfort zones to compete for leadership opportunities.
Policing has transformed significantly from its traditional form, which was primarily about physical enforcement,” she says.
“Having female officers to handle female suspects ensures ethical policing,” she adds. “Gender balance in the force is not about favouring women — it’s about ensuring effective and ethical policing practices.

Mentorship and role models
Ms Nakato highlights mentorship as a key initiative in her department.
“We coordinate capacity-building programmes in collaboration with top management and other partners to ensure women gain leadership skills,” she says, adding, “Through transformational leadership training — supported by UN Women — we equip female officers with the confidence and knowledge needed to assume leadership roles.”
They also conduct career guidance sessions to build confidence among female officers, as self-doubt remains a challenge due to the male-dominated nature of the institution.
Nakato says one of her role models is Jessica Orodrio, a former Assistant Inspector General of Police and Director of Human Resource Management. “She was a confident and assertive leader who set an example for women in the force,” she shares.

Challenges and future prospects
Despite progress, challenges persist: “Women are often perceived as weak, which hinders their chances of being entrusted with leadership roles. But gender equality is about giving women a fair chance to participate.”
“The truth is, we want to advance families as well. As women, we seek the opportunity to work and contribute to our households. When both partners bring something to the table, they complement each other, ensuring financial stability and a happier family life,” Nakato says.
Encouraging young women to join the police, she says, “The force offers numerous opportunities in various fields, including engineering, medicine, ICT, and forensic science. Career success is not solely about financial gain — it’s about fulfilling one’s purpose and gaining experience.”
Nakato urges women to believe in themselves and strive for excellence. “If you believe in yourself and know what you want, go for it. Always strive for the best.”

ON A LIGHTER NOTE
If you weren’t a police officer, what would you be?
I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to study mass communication and pursue a career in journalism.
If you could arrest one bad habit in society and put it in jail, what would it be?
I would arrest immorality. I strongly dislike immorality, especially among women.
What do you do in your free time after work?
After work, I make sure to watch the news. That’s why we have a television set. I always watch Al Jazeera and other news channels. After that, I go through my personal work to check if there’s anything I need to take care of.