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Kinyarwanda
Police students from regional countries attending the ‘Senior Command and Staff’ course at the National Police College in Musanze district, yesterday visited Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration camp and commended the country’s post-genocide leadership in uniting and transformation process.
The visit to the Nyabihu-based transit camp for the reintegration of ex-combatants from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia into Rwandan communities ended their five-day countrywide study tour which started on Monday.
The tour was part of their one year course which started late last year, to apply their theories into practical.
Jean Marie Tugirumukiza, the deputy manager of the camp explained to students on the history of the centre and various services offered to ex-combatants before reintegrating them in communities.
“Members of FDLR who denounce their rebel activities and report back are well received here and prepared to be reintegrated into communities including giving them vocational skills to help them start small income generating activities,” Tugirumukiza explained to the students.
He also said that even when they are reintegrated, there is a monitoring team that follows them up to ensure that they fully feel at home and cooperate with other Rwandans in transforming their country.
At Mutobo camp, Police students also met with the 45 ex-combatants already undergoing reintegration programmes.
Gonzague Karege, one of the ex-combatant at the camp told them how he came to abandon the rebel activities.
“We were being fed on lies about Rwanda…how we will be killed if we return and life there is really unbearable. I believe even my colleagues who are still there if they open their eyes and know a better life that awaits them back home, they we abandon the jungles,” Karege, who held a rank of Captain, said.
He said he was a soldier in ex-FAR, fled to DRC when the genocide regime was defeated and was part of the rebel attacks in Rwanda between 1997 and 1998.
“Applying theories into practice is a registered achievement in Rwanda. Governance and leadership is well defined and theories of leadership are well applied which is lacking in other countries,” Chief Police Officer-First Class, Ferdinand Habonimana from Burundi, observed.
“As law enforcers, whatever decision we make in our duties has an impact in leadership, management and our people in general. Our decisions should reflect best interests of those we serve but not personal. Identifying, assessing and evaluating root causes of conflict are essential in transforming states, which this great course offers,” he added.
Lt. Col. Michael Zacharias from South Sudan Police Force said it’s important that leaders go through such a course because it will enlighten them in their roles as leaders and how to work better with other public and private institutions to solve conflicts and to jointly law firm foundation towards their country’s transformation and sustainable development.
Twenty eight students from nine regional countries are attending the second intake of the highest Police course, which combines three Police components.
The countries are Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, South Sudan, Kenya, Swaziland, Ethiopia Burundi and Rwanda, the host.
The components are ‘operational staff work of police’ offered by Rwanda National Police, ‘strategic leadership and management,’ (level seven certificate), offered by the UK-based Bramshill Police College and a Master’s in ‘Peace Studies and Conflict Management’ offered in partnership with the University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Science (CASS).
During the five-day study tour, they also visited Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), Ministry of East African Community and the RNP anti-gender-based violence medical wing – Isange One Stop centre.
Others are Kinazi Cassava factory, national museum in Nyanza, East African granite industries in Nyagatare, Inyange industries, Rutongo mining concession, Nyabihu tea factory and Rubavu district.
