Agnes Lemaru has been working as a security guard since completing her O-Level education in 2000 in the north-western Ugandan town of Arua. At the time, she wanted to join the armed forces, and one day she and her twin brother responded to a police recruitment call there. The twins were rejected for being short, she said with a chuckle recently. “They were measuring the height, so we failed,” she told TWR. “Me and my brother, the height just rejected us.” Her brother later managed to enlist in the army, leaving Lemaru pondering what she wanted to do with her life. She always felt she could do well in a job that required vigilance.
In 2002 she got married, an experience she described as “hot.” The marriage produced three children but failed after seven years when Lemaru decided to leave the home. She came to Kampala seeking work in private security service as an askari of the kind who guard banks, supermarkets, and even private estates. She worked with the Askar company for three years, then she was with the Senaca company for four years, and then she was briefly with SGA. She was deployed at sites ranging from U.N.-rented buildings to sports betting halls.
Lemaru was regularly deployed at a supermarket when her current employer discovered her. The businesswoman and Lemaru used to make small talk when the woman came to do her shopping. After Lemaru resigned from her company over a wage dispute, the woman began asking others about Lemaru. Informed of why Lemaru had stopped working, she looked for Lemaru and offered her a job.
Lemaru said accepted the job that pays better and gives her shelter – and to this day remains in the job. She looks after a big rental property in the Namugongo area of the central Ugandan district of Wakiso. Short and stocky, sometimes she can be found sweeping the dusty entrance to the estate, her rosary dangling. Mostly she keeps in her room behind the gate. Her smile is warm and conspiratorial, especially when she is asked questions for which she has ready answers. She regularly attends Sunday Mass at the Catholic basilica in Namugongo.
Lemaru writes as if she were making reports to her superiors in a security company. She pointed out that working for a private estate is like working for a company in one way: she has to watch out and she’s required to make detailed notes of what transpires in the course of a day. But one key difference, she said, is that she is required to restrain herself, so that she keeps calm during those moments when she would like to manhandle those who disrespect, or intrude on, her. “For me I was short-tempered, but now I am O.K.,” she said.
If her notes do not charm, at least they denote the vigilance in her manner that has endeared her to those who know her well, including many young women from Arua who have found employment in Kampala with her help. Lemaru is nothing if not kind. This diary highlights her personal travails, including false accusations, the ever-present threat of danger from thieves, and the menace one faces everywhere in Kampala’s crowded streets. As always, this diary is presented in the woman’s voice; nothing is edited, although there are minor interventions when this is deemed necessary to achieve a measure of clarity. – TWR
July 28
At around 07:30am our neighbour by the names of Charles fought with his wife just because of romors that the woman has boy friend which involves meny peoples to be concened. According to the nature of the problem the LC with his buddy members have [solved] it smoothly.
As on 3/08/2024
Early at around 07:30am it started raining which took almost for 02:hrs, has stopped me to work the domestic affairs like cleaning the compaound [and] bringing the escort from the supper market. Was so hard for me.
As on 4/08/2024
Evening sitrep Calm Ex at around 16:40hrs while going to the centre a boda boda guy who was coming with passangers were knocked by a vechicle No UBF 889 Land Guser which left them dead. The driver was arrested by the police and the bodies were taken for burial by their relatives.
Morning Sitrep Calm Expect at around 01:00pm the dogs started barking rapidly which waked me up from a sleep when I came out realised [it] was a thief which were planning to steel. Later I made alarm where by the neighbours helped the situation ok. Nothing taken.
At 08:30am when I was doing the general duties one of the neighbours by the names of Paul sent one of his children by names Joel to call me for the mergency to hurry, his wife was about to deliver and later she was taken to the hospital she delivered a baby boy. They came back at around 17:30 hrs in the evening every thing reads calm and normal.
Morning report as on…
While I was doing the general cleanness a vichicle of Air transport arrived to pick our neighbours who is going to England because she/he works there. [Otherwise] the situation reads ok.
Morning report calm and normal. Exactly at around 9:30am after the breakfast unknown people came and knocked the gate. [They] were 03 in number. I came and intervieoed them. They could [not] respond clearly. Immediately reported the problem to LC 1 by the names of Francis who handed over them to the police for more investigation. Latter [I continued] with the normal activities as far as it is concerned.
The situation reads normal and calm. Exactly at around 08:30am I went for services to Namugongo which I met many friends and many others specialy my follower maids which of couse we came back late with them. While coming back we happened to come across the crowd and the people who were gathered on the road [because] an old woman was knocked by the boda boda man who was carrying two passengers behind him where by these three, boda man two passengers a man with his wife were injured and the old woman was knocked dead. The body was taken for postmotame by the police men. At this point we actually delayed to arrive home early as possible as it is needed.
A page from Agnes Lemaru’s private diary.
As today morning at around 09:20am there is client who come from the work. I told him where you pack your car the neighbour’s child is there playing. She refused to be taken away from there [and] this man also refuse to pack his car [on the] other side of the packing immediately.
The evening sitrep/ situation reads calm and normal. As exactly around 18:30hrs according to my daily bases my boss called all of us for family meeting which is concerned about the movement out and in which must be in time. Specialy out. Of couse you can go out but you should follow the time still. The boss [continued] to advice us that we should be carefull about the people who are pretending to be friends otherwise the meeting ended successfully.
Yesterday at around midnight the 00:30hrs one of my client who arrive I open for him. I [saw] one side mirra was not there after he pack the car and enter inside the house but I follow up to the packing to confirm nothing was there. In the morning This client woke up and didn’t ask me. Just called the police to come and arrest me. So I told police before we go I want to tell my boss first. The client stopped me to call my boss so I was taken by this police mens. Other clients called my boss and tell my boss what has happened. My boss went to police. [They] explain what has [happened]. My boss told police I have [CCTV] or camera we first go and play the camera. … After my boss reach to the police [they] called me and said come we go home [because] the case has been withdrawing so which means you have no case. His side mirra was stolen from outside. Otherwise the sitrep.
Yesterday at around 00 am when I was asleep the dog wake me up. I start patrol and I [saw] some guys at the gate. I ask them who are you they didn’t respound. Immediately I fired one bullet and one person down. Others run away. I went to see what has happened [and] I found there is the boy for one of client then I was [shocked]. The parents to this boy they said don’t worry about it so I wasn’t arrested. The dead bod was taken by the police for the postmatome and brought back for burial by their relatives. sitrep remains normal.
Agnes Lemaru photographed near the estate she looks after in Namugongo. © Rodney Muhumuza for TWR
Today in morning they knock the gate. I come and see who has knocked the gate. I found a [lady] with [broker] man. The told me they have come to check the house when I open for them. they check a house and stole the keys for the rooms, I came back in the house [and] the keys were nowhere to be found. So I follow up the road and I [saw the lady] she was getting the boda boda [and] I made alarm.
Today in afternoon the boda boda who [used] to take and bring the client’s child to the school was bringing the child from the school. I open for them [and] this boda boda reach the compound and fell with the child. The child start crying hard. The client asked the guy what happened, the boda boda said I didn’t open very well, [that] I opened half the gate. Client said okey you all come over so he checks the camera and asks have you seen then who is in mistakes. He said for me I have [no] problem. The boda boda is the one in the mistake, the client wants the boda to stop the [speeding].
Yesterday at around 03:20 hrs I hard the dogs barking rapidly which waked me up from a sleep. When I came out I realy found 2 people [were] trying to kulimb the [fence]. When they saw me caming to the [fence] they run away but they never access the premises.
Our neighbour we hard her crying at around 23:30 pm. The wife was cheating the husband. The boy friend used to call her. She can go out and talk. After the husband got her on the phone talking, she end the call. When he asked the wife, whom are you talk to, the wife said I was talk to my brother and the husband said give me that phone, the wife refuse, he get the phone and call the number. The wife boy friend said who are you, move away from my wife’s phone. The husband to this wife asked her who is this. She said it is my brother so the husband break the phone and gave his wife to her parent.
Today morning everything has been ok, but after the clients child start fainting with vomit and they run with the baby to hospital in worst [condition] now is adimitade at hospital treatment.
Today when I was going to the church my client who use to report me to my boss has [surprised me] and stop to give a lift up to the church. But when I reached church I was worried that [she] is going to report me to my boss. I didn’t took long then I came back. I left the prayers while it [was] raining. It is a bite risky cause I was [walking] while raining and reaching in the evening I felt sick and now I have been injected.
Today as early as around 07:30am it started raining which took almost for 02 hrs I have client who use to chase the maids she called me to go and help him to hang the clothes [but] it was risky. I told him am going to hang letter than 10:00am he started shout at me … so I start [to] hang his clothes immediately the rain start again. He told me to remove them otherwise which was not my work.
Yesterday at around 23:20hrs I wake up and check. I found woman at the gate she hard me walking [and] she started call me in Luganda help me am lost, I ask who are you she said am mama Mariam am from the work, the boda boda left me in the road. He refused to take me where I am going and grabed my bag with money I was haven. I took her to the chairman. Chairman told me is okey I go home he will solve the issue.
Yesterday I went to the church and my boss arrive in my [absence] and he open for himself. My boss called where are you. I said am in prayers. To hurry I got boda boda [but] when this boda was crossing the road we [fell] down and I get injury but not too much. My boss said sorry.
Today in the morning I wake up [after] one of my client called me. I got to him [and] he sent me to the trading center. I was on my way going [and] a boda boda cross on my side and knock me, and the people on the road they [saw] what happen to me. They arrest this boda guy and they tell this boda boda to take me to the hospital. The boda boda refuse and tell people am not bad.
Yesterday evening my friend called me you come at our home we have birthday party for our young sister. I went there [and] they prepared too much food with the cakes, everyone was very happy. at night I felt stomach pening. otherwise I become fine.
As on 30/08/2024
At exactly around 15 25hrs my superior or boss has come for the patrol and found me asleep and wake me up. he [said] you are not serious. I apologies to him and he said never repit. Since that time I not go to sleep at day time so we have solved it smoothly. ▪