Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP), on January 29 handed over half a million francs to Ugandan authorities, after it was recovered from a suspected thief who had crossed into Rwanda.

The money was handed over by Commissioner for Interpol, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Tony Kuramba, to Ugandan Police Assistant Commissioner of Police, Patrick Lawot, at the RNP Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The suspected thief is a 26 year old Burundian national, Shadrack Mugwaneza, who was arrested in a lodge in Nyabugogo on January 20, shortly after he had arrived in Kigali from Kampala.

Upon arrest, he was searched and found to be in possession of Rwf509,000 which was confiscated, pending further investigations,  according to the Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Celestin Twahirwa.

“We received information from our Ugandan counterparts that a suspect had stolen money worth 5.3 million Ugandan shillings, from a colleague with whom they worked at a petrol station in Kampala. They alerted us that he might be trying to flee to Burundi through Rwanda,” CSP Twahirwa said.

“So, we were vigilant enough at the borders and when he arrived, we tracked his every movement until he was apprehended in Nyabugogo. Through Interpol, we share critical information on criminals. This culture of sharing information has reduced cross-border crimes,” he added.

Uganda’s Assistant Commissioner of Police, Patrick Lawot, commended RNP for its professionalism and high level of trust indicated by handing over the money.

“Rwanda Police has again indicated to us that we can always rely on them for high level investigations and professionalism. We appreciate the professional gesture and we will endeavor to cooperate in order to enforce law and order in our countries,” he said.

“Once we hand over the money back to the owners, we are certain that the business community back at home will appreciate more such good cooperation.”

Both law enforcers are finalizing the transfer of the Burundian suspect to Uganda where he will be prosecuted for his alleged crimes.

According to Lawot, two other suspects in connection to the crime are still on the run and investigations are ongoing to apprehend them.

This becomes the second time in less than a month that RNP hands over stolen money to Uganda.

On December 31 last year, RNP handed over Rwf8 million to a Ugandan businessman which had been stolen from him in Kabale, South Western Uganda.

RNP intervened after Police in Kabale arrested one of the suspects who said he had sent some of the money to his relatives’ bank account in Rwanda.