Agony as female police recruits are tortured with gymnastics

January 20th 2014  By GRACE NAKATO

 

 January is about change, and most especially getting rid of dead weight and bringing in new blood. Company targets and goals are modified upwards, and expectations increase exponentially. Sometimes you are requested to leave and other times it is a case of green pastures and jumping ship. When you apply for a job, it would make sense to do some research on expectations and perhaps the culture of the position. I am a great believer in researching a prospective employer, and in some cases go as far as canvassing for more information on the expectations at the interview.

This tactic would have enabled those who applied for the Uganda Police jobs to carry “nitalala wapi” bags that included a change of clothing. In readiness for the 2016 elections, the Uganda police is currently in the process of recruiting at least 3,000 probation police constables and 500 cadets to shore up ranks countrywide. The advert in the dailies indicated that candidates must be degree holders and have no criminal record. It was also rumored that the cadets would be deployed in Parliament, Anti-terrorism Unit, Uganda Revenue Authority, banks, embassies, hotels, NGOs, and the like where they would get allowances of over Ksh24,000 per month on top of their salaries. Our Universities churn out a huge number of candidates annually, and there are very few jobs available, let alone those that pay enough for one to have a life. The turnout was, therefore, impressive and quick thinking needed to be applied to weed out the surplus. The first clue that should have forewarned the candidates of an unusual interview should have been being requested to turn up in the Police Training School sports field. Ugandan women are the best dressed this side of East Africa on a good day. While attending an interview we take it to the highest notch inclusive of visiting the salon and borrowing or hiring everything to achieve the killer look. However, what was in store for the beauties was nothing but pure torture.

Imagine the horror of walking across a dusty patch of turf (the sun is hot and there is no grass for miles), in your stilettos and thereafter being subjected to a vigorous training session that includes star jumps in your miniature skirt. The male candidates had the most fun during the interview. When those in tiny little dresses and tight bodices had to do press-ups and roll on the ground. Hemlines rose and buttons popped, and the hair was in disarray. I am sure many were hard pressed to explain which new boyfriend they had spent the afternoon with. I am not sure if this was gender insensitivity or an introduction to job expectations. Perhaps they only wanted to hire candidates who will be ready (and willing) for anything and everything at any time. To be a member of the force requires one to have a great sense of humour and to be very agile. .