Rwanda National Police

Gatsibo District has launched a public awareness programme aimed at combating the sell and consumption of drugs such as cannabis and illicit brew in the area.

The launch of the campaign was held on February 17 in Nyamirama cell of Gitoki sector and attended by hundreds of residents, officials from public and private institutions and clerics.

The exercise also coincided with the start of the ‘Good Governance Month’ in the district.

Felix Usengimana, an official from Rwanda Governance Board (RDB) said combating drug abuse is also critical to establishing a good governance system.

“We cannot talk about good governance if a group of Rwandans still indulge illegal acts like drug abuse, which also force them to commit other criminal offences like theft and domestic violence and forces the youth to drop out of schools and lures girls to unwanted pregnancies,” Usengimana said.

Bishop Alexis Birindabagabo of Gahini diocese also echoed the need for strengthened efforts to combat drug abuse in the district and the country in general.

“It only needs Rwandans to change their mindset against drug abuse and commit to the common course,” Bishop Birindabagabo observed.

The district mayor, Ambroise Ruboneza challenged area residents to give no room for drug abuse by reporting those involved and to be “an eye for neighbours” through the ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ concept.

The exercise which started with a walk against crimes by anti-crime clubs also included the public destruction of 68 boxes of illicit gin called Chief Waragi and 60 litres of kanyanga which were seized last month.

Similarly, Police in Musanze district also arrested two women who were intercepted while trafficking sachets of another illegal gin called Blue Sky.

The women were apparently traveling in a public vehicle when they were intercepted in Ruhengeri cell of Muhoza sector.