Rwanda National Police

In 2009, Rwanda National Police (RNP) launched a six-month ‘Grace Period’ for members of the community, who still possess firearms and explosives, to surrender them willingly.

The initiative yielded positive results and though the grace period passed, until now, as it was made clear, no crime is committed by anyone who surrenders or gives information on the whereabouts of these weapons.

Despite the tremendous step in recovering these weapons, there are few, who have persistently ignored the calls to freely surrender these weapons or give information on their whereabouts.

Citizens are reminded that there is no criminal liability to any person, who surrenders a weapon voluntarily.

On November 6, The Engineering Regiment in Nyarugenge and Gicumbi districts, demolished two tortoise grenades after some citizens provided information of their whereabouts.

One of the explosives was found in a garden and another discovered in a farm.
Rwanda National Police, therefore, urges those who are still possessing firearms and explosives illegally, or have knowledge of their whereabouts, to voluntarily hand them over to security organs or local authorities.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) also calls on citizens not to touch any object they suspect to be an explosive, instead, report them to security organs and other concerned authorities.

Illicit weapons are deadly, especially in the hands of wrong or unauthorized people.

Possessing these weapons or refusing to provide information of their whereabouts intentionally, is an illegal act and punishable by the law.

Article 671 of the penal code states that “any person who illegally possesses, lends or gives an arm, or falsifies its identification marks, is liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf3 million or one of these penalties.

Article 675, states, Any person, who provides false information or refuses to provide information with the aim of obtaining a license for possession or carriage of a firearm, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months  to one year and a fine of Rwf100, 000 to Rwf1 million or one of these penalties.