Police publicist Luke Owoyesigire opens up on financial struggles; toughest day at work

As a deputy police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, Owoyesigire is a staple on our television sets. He is also beloved in the media circles and considered one of the most effective communicators that the city has ever had.

But as he tells Ruth Kalibbala in an interview, every now and then he does have to contend with hardships that include threats, extreme work pressures and even financial hardships.

For instance, he says, there are times when he is unable to provide everything that his family needs.

“As a parent, there are times when a child will ask for something and you are unable to provide and it hurts,” he said.

“Sometimes we use the excuse that we are teaching them (children) a lesson to be content with the little that they have, but in reality, if we all had enough money we’d provide whatever our children need. But when you don't have, that is when that lesson has to come in,” he says.

Owoyesigire is not “officially married” but considers himself traditionally married. He loves Ugandan music, and his top artists include Vinka, Naava Grey, Maddox, Sheeba, Kenneth Mugabi among others.

Despite his reputable job through; his family is not always comfortable with that level of exposure, especially when he gets serious threats in his inbox or mean attacks on social media.

Even at work, life is not always a walk in the park. He works under immense pressure that requires him to be alert at all times.

His toughest day at work, he recalls, was in November 2020, when two supporters of the opposition NUP party were reportedly knocked dead by a Police patrol truck.

With conflicting reports coming from the field, Owoyesigire remembers facing a lot of backlash as the public rejected all the information he was putting out.

“Remember I am not in the field but I have to balance the situation until there is enough information. It was so tough because no matter what we said no one wanted to believe us and the politics was heated up,’' he recounted.