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Kinyarwanda
The 28 pioneers of the Police Senior Command and Staff course, graduated on Sunday at the National Police College (NPC) with Master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation.
The commissioners and senior officers, who include 16 Rwandans, are from 12 African countries.
The countries are Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Zambia, Kenya, Somalia, Ghana, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and the host, Rwanda.
The one-year course, the first of its kind in the region, is also a combination of strategic command and leadership component, police routine and operation staff work.
It was offered in partnership with the UK-based College of Policing – Bramshill – and the National University of Rwanda.
The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil, who presided over the graduation, commended Rwanda National Police for putting in place systems and procedures to improve the capabilities of the force, not only in Rwanda but also on the entire continent.
The East African Community (EAC) nominated the National Police College as a regional centre of excellence, and the Minister observed that this is a “proof that the College has majored to the international standard, which is a pride to all Rwandans and our sisters from the EAC member states.”
“When RNP was formed in the year 2000, the Government of Rwanda was facing multiple challenges including dysfunctional systems and high skills gap; many years of dictatorship and poor leadership which culminated into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi had negative effects not only on political and economic aspects governance, but the security sector as well,” the Minister stated.
“Today, our country exhibit effective structures, competent systems, established institutions and a comprehensive plan to fill the skills gap, and the graduation of Senior command and staff course and PPS is a testimony to this fact,” he added.
He urged grandaunts to be good ambassadors of the college by demonstrating professionalism in execution of their duties in their respective countries.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana said that measures have been undertaken to “match the contemporary traits to ensure national safety, security, peace and prosperity.”
“The establishment of this police college and the police senior command and staff course is the product of the national grand vision for transformation and self reliance and a value addition to reshape policing on the continent,” the IGP said.
The college houses the academic and command and staff wing and the CID school.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Vincent Biruta commended the RNP achievements and reassured continued support to build the capacity of the force.
CP Vianney Nshimiyimana was awarded as the overall best students, followed by SP Khalid Kabasha and ACP Damas Gatare, respectively.
At the event, the 36 officers, who graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Police Professional Studies (PPS) last Thursday, which is offered in partnership with the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE), were unveiled.
The graduation was followed by the inauguration of the newly acquired facility, formerly Ishema hotel, which is an extension of the National Police College.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Defence, Gen. James Kabarebe, heads of security institutions from Rwanda and various African countries, among others.
