On November 9, Rwandans woke up to the shocking news of the Rose Kabuye’s arrest. Ms Kabuye, the chief of State Protocol was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany. The fact is that Kabuye’s arrest is fully packed with a lot of politics and since in the first place as a senior government official, Kabuye is supposed to enjoy diplomatic immunity from the little knowledge I have about politics. Discussing or even engaging in politics has never been and perhaps will never be my cup of coffee, however with Rose’s arrest I couldn’t resist the temptation to at least talk about it. To be more precise for purposes of women empowerment! I will resist from going into details about Rose’s arrest and dwell on her personality and profile that should be a source of inspiration for women out there. As a woman who has treaded in very slippery paths, Rose Kabuye is a woman whose efforts must be applauded! While it is not news that a woman is joined the army, it is news when a woman excels in her work. In most cases women who join the army remain junior officers serving in the army or receive honorary ranks. But Ms Kabuye did her best. Besides, before her appointment as chief of State Protocol, she had served as a mayor of Kigali. This adds weight to her character not only as brave and intelligent woman but also demonstrates her leadership skills. Anybody that has knowledge about the army and its operations will agree that the army is not a place for “weaklings” but very strong people. It takes maximum courage, commitment and hard work to be “somebody” in the army and not just an officer. The world today needs more women like Rose! Assertive, independent, hard working and compassionate! The world needs more women who are clear headed about what they want and will go for it. Women like Rose are torch bearers, as women continue to strive for excellence against all odds. The other thing that makes Rose shine is her ability to be a successful woman in her own right, challenging the common notion that women are made by men. Rose completed her studies and decided to join the army thus her subsequent appointments in the army ranks that were based on merit. It is astonishing that even in the 21 century, there is a good share of the population, who selfishly think most successful women “sleep their way to the top” and yet in actual sense most of these women “work very hard to the top”. Today women are pursuing their careers more than ever before to compete favourably with men who have been largely favoured by history. It is wrong for anybody to undermine or dismiss their efforts. Women also can’t afford to be sidelined and treated as subordinates because they have got the potential to be successful in their own right. Contact: ubernie@gmail.com
