Rwanda National Police

Some 177 Police officers attending a three-month Station Commanders’ course at the Counter-Terrorism Training Centre (CTTC) Mayange in Bugesera District, have started a study tour of key Rwandan historical sites.

On Thursday, November 27, the officers, who include 10 allied students from Liberia National Police, visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Museum for Campaign Against Genocide at the Parliamentary Building, as part of the three-month training programme.

It is designed to enhance their leadership capacity, professionalism, and ethical grounding among officers who are preparing to support national security, community trust, and long-term peace.

The tour allowed the Police officers to connect with Rwanda's rich history and cultural heritage to enhance their understanding of the country’s identity and the importance of preserving its history while also strengthening their commitment to national security.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Méthode Munyaneza, Chief Instructor of the CTTC, said the visit was organized to ensure that officers’ professional duties are anchored in a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s history.

“This tour helps officers draw lessons from the historical context of Rwanda’s transformation. We aim to develop commanders who are not only technically competent but also grounded in strong national values,” said ACP Munyaneza.

He added: “It reminds us of the failures of past security institutions mandated to protect the population and reinforces our responsibility to ensure such shortcomings are never repeated.” He emphasized that Rwanda’s journey of reconstruction provides crucial lessons for policing leadership.

“The country’s recovery—rebuilding institutions, restoring security, and fostering unity after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—teaches us that progress is driven by accountability, ethical leadership, and the commitment to serve communities with integrity,” ACP Munyaneza added.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Joseph Joe Johnson from Liberia described the experience as “profoundly instructive,” noting that it strengthened his understanding of the critical responsibility police commanders bear in building public trust, drawing lesson from the past to ensure that communities feel protected and respected.

During their visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, officers were guided through the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the resilience demonstrated by survivors.

At the Museum for Campaign Against Genocide, they explored the decisive actions that halted the massacres and laid the foundation for the nation’s current security architecture and development trajectory.