Rwanda National Police

Illegal possession of firearms is among the contemporary policing challenges facing law enforcement institutions worldwide.

Illicit weapons are deadly, especially when in hands of wrong or unauthorized people.

This remains a minor issue in Rwanda but one cannot ignore the threat that the few explosives abandoned in some parts of the country during the liberation struggle, can cause.

On April 16, four hand grenades were recovered; two in Muhanga District and two others in Ngororero and Gakenke districts.

This is an indication that there could still be other explosives in bushes. Beware of such explosives while farming, digging holes, ditches, latrines.

The general public is advised not to play with any suspicious objects and report them to nearest security organs to be disposed off.

Children have been victims of such explosives after picking and playing with them. Children are therefore called upon to report these suspicious objects, which might be dangerous to their lives, and parents are appealed to take up this awareness and talk and explain to their children on the dangers of such objects.

The Rwanda National Police also continues to call upon anyone that still possesses these weapons illegally or knows their whereabouts to voluntarily hand them over or provide information of their whereabouts.

There is no criminal liability to anyone who hands over these weapons voluntarily.

Possessing these weapons illegally or refusing to provide information of their whereabouts intentionally, is punishable under articles 671 and 675 of the Rwandan penal code.