Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has pledged to face-lift a sports facility in Gikomero Sector in Gasabo District under its programme of supporting sports development in the country, and to enhance the police-public partnership to reduce crime and its negative consequences.

This was during a special community exercise – Umuganda – held in Munini Cell in Gikomero on Saturday, where the activities to level the playground started.

Umuganda was organised by the youth as part of the implementation of their decisions adopted during the recent youth retreat.

One of the resolutions of the youth in the country in their recent retreat is to create and refurbish football pitches at least in every Cell across the country.

The Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Oda Gasinzigwa, who presided over the exercise, thanked the Rwandan youth for taking the forefront in implementing the government development policies and programmes.

"The government supports and provided a platform for the youth to be ingredients to development. The President listens and interacts with the youth. A lot is therefore expects from you," Minister Gasinzigwa said.

She commended security organs for supporting community development and thanked RNP for reaching out to Gikomero residents with human security and sports development initiatives.

"Such valuable support should be rewarded with standing up against crimes like illicit drugs, gender based violence and sexual violence and other criminal activities," she noted.

"We are enjoying good governance, there is security, universal education and universal health services are closer to the people. When you have all these and many more, you need to go further to create recreational grounds, and this programme to establish playgrounds to lowest governance level are geared towards that."

"Although there is security in Rwanda today, we have to bear in mind that there could be some negative ideas or forces that might target especially the youth. Stay focused, don't be taken away by such evil ideas, instead partner with security organs to fight such," she told the youth.

Gasinzigwa challenged parents and leaders to support children in their sports careers and to put much emphasis in sports development in their communities.

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, who participated at the Special Umugande, announced the RNP support.

IGP Gasana said: "The Rwanda National Police engineering regiment is going to deploy its machines here and level this playground to the required standard."

He also pledged a uniform to Gikomero football club, said.

"RNP attaches much value to youth and sports development. All this is done because there is security and peace in the country, but we should make the partnership stronger to fight things like negative ideology, illicit drugs and other negative and illegal tendencies which undervalue the tradition of Rwanda and undermine development," he added.

Reacting on the joy of Gikomero residents after RNP established a Police station there, recently, IGP Gasana said "this is because of the visionary leadership of His Excellency the President, Paul Kagame" to establish a Police station in each of the 416 Sectors in the country.

The exercise attended by Members of Parliament, religious and local leaders,and about 1500 residents of Gikomero, was climaxed by the finals of the security and hygiene football match between Minini and Gasagara cells of Gikomero, which the former won after overcoming their opponent 4-3 in penalty shoot out after a 1-all draw in normal time.

Gikomero also beat other sectors in Gasabo in Security and Hygiene competition, an initiative of RNP and the City of Kigali.