Rwanda National Police

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye, on Sunday, inaugurated the newly constructed village office of Cyankongi of Rusheshe Cell, Masaka Sector in Kicukiro District.

The facility is among 30 village offices to be constructed across the country by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in its ongoing Police Week activities to mark its 18th anniversary.

The facility has office rooms, a conference hall, television set and high power solar energy.

This year's Police Week is held under the theme: "18 Years of Partnership in Policing: Towards a Crime-free Village."

The theme describes a deliberate move to engage the general public in embracing the philosophy of  community policing to promote crime free villages.

Faidah Bicamumpaka, the village chief of Cyankongi, who received the keys to the office on behalf of the residents, thanked the government and RNP in particular for the support, and added that "we have no doubt that even what we don't have now we will get it in the near future."

“Previously, we did not have an office like this. We were facing challenges operating under scorching sunshine, and obviously, when it rained the progress of our works would definitely come to a halt," said Bicamumpaka.

According to the village chief, the new office will help residents come together, discuss on a wide range of issues, all aimed at fostering welfare and security and more importantly get updated on current affairs of the country since they now have TV.

RNP also connected all households in Cyankongi with solar energy.

Dativa Tuyisabe,  a resident in Cyankuge village, recounted that the donation extended to them by the Police, clearly illustrates such kind of leadership Rwandans are proud of.

"We always have more reasons to support our security organs and to be part of the overall security and development agenda because all that is being done is for our wellbeing," said the 28-year-old mother of two.

She added: “It is possible to have and live in a crime free village. This village has not recorded any crime for the past six months, we embraced security aspects like neighborhood watch and information sharing on security matters.”

Minister Busingye commended efforts of Cyankongi residents in fighting crimes and turning their village into one of the crime-free villages in the country.

“You have played a commendable role in securing your village, maintain that spirit and tempo," the Minister said.

He added: "Such efforts should also be employed to fight poverty, taking children to school and ensuring everybody in the village has insurance cards (Mutuelle de Sante).”

The Minister reminded hundreds of residents that security is a basis for sustainable development.

“The more a country keeps enjoying security, the more it definitely advances in terms of economic progress and developments,” he said, calling on residents to always play a primary responsibility in crime prevention.

He further urged the residents to protect and make good use of the new office and solar energy to foster their welfare.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, said: “Rwanda National Police recognize the efforts residents of Cyankongi have invested in fighting crimes,  and this is recognising your efforts. All these human security activities fall under the guidance and the support of President Paul Kagame."

Dr. Jeanne Nyirahabimana, the Mayor of Kicukiro commended RNP for its human security activities, a factor that continues to make the force trusted and improving the community policing relations with the people.

This, she said, has contributed significantly to the decrease in crimes in Kicukiro.

The mayor also called upon grassroots leaders to emulate the good example set by Cyankongi village. 

“What this village has been able to do in crime prevention should be a good lesson to other villages. It challenges us as leaders and the citizenry that living in a crime free village is possible,” Nyirahabimana said.

The inauguration of Cyankongi village office, is part of series of other Rwanda National Police anniversary conducted countrywide.

Other activities include awareness campaigns against gender based violence, drug trafficking and abuse, human trafficking, corruption as well as connecting at least 3000 disadvantaged households across the country with solar energy.