Retired Superintendent of Police Pauline Maniraguha Bangirana, the first woman to join the Uganda Police Force, has died at the age of 85.
Her death was confirmed by the head of the Criminal Investigations Department at Parliament Police, ASP Charles Twiine, who acknowledged her impact on Uganda’s law enforcement history.
ASP Twiine posted on X saying, “She broke barriers in 1960 and paved the way for women in law enforcement. I wish Uganda Police honours her legacy and accords her an official burial.”.
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Ms. Bangirana, along with another woman identified as Ms. Rukidi, was among the first two female recruits to join the Uganda Police Force in 1960.
They were later joined by eight others to complete the pioneering cohort of ten women in a force that had been entirely male-dominated.
She was one of the few surviving members of that first group and had often spoken about the challenges she and her colleagues faced as women in the force. One of the most significant struggles was the restriction on marriage and pregnancy.
According to Bangirana, women officers had to seek permission to marry, and pregnancy was grounds for dismissal.
In 2022, Ms. Bangirana launched her autobiography, To Be Shrewd Without Appearing A Shrew, in which she detailed the stringent restrictions placed on female police officers during her time.
She spoke candidly about how they had to request permission to marry, only to face dismissal if they became pregnant.
The book also reflected on her resilience, the battles she fought for gender equality, and how her experiences shaped the future for women in Uganda’s law enforcement.
In her autobiography, she narrates how, after getting married in 1965 with official approval, she was forced to defend her right to remain in the police after becoming pregnant.
Her immediate boss, known as ‘Sir Richard,’ recommended her resignation in accordance with Police Standing Order Chapter 3, which dictated that a pregnant policewoman should either resign voluntarily or face dismissal.
Determined to challenge the norm, Bangirana wrote directly to then-Inspector General of Police Erinayo Wilson Oryema, arguing that she had followed proper protocol in getting married and should not be penalised for pregnancy.
Oryema granted her 36 days of annual leave and an additional 90 days of unpaid leave, a decision that marked a crucial moment in improving the treatment of women in the force.
In conclusion, Ms. Bangirana was vocal about how female officers in her time were limited to handling cases involving women and children, including taking statements from rape victims and searching female suspects.
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