Rwanda National Police

African Union Peacekeeping course ends at Gishari

A four-week African Union (AU) peacekeeping course of 25 Police officers from Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda, ended last Friday at the Police Training School Gishari in Rwamagana District.

The Formed Police Unit (FPU) Training of Trainers course was organised by the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), a regional body mandated to enhance peace and security in Eastern Africa.

The Commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, while speaking at the closing of the course, underscored the importance of the course in preparing and enhancing professionalism of officers prior to their deployment to bring about peace in other countries.

The AU standards of the course set a pass-mark. Only those who passed and put in the database are certified as training facilitators either in their respective countries or to undertake similar training duty in other countries to prepare FPU contingents for future deployments.

The course covered concepts of multidimensional integrated peace support operations; specific AU training issues; safety and security in peace support operations; public order management; Police tactics and techniques as well as logistics and administration issues, among others. Read more

UN decorates Rwandan Police peacekeepers in Malakal

At least 239 Rwandan Police peacekeepers serving as Formed Police Unit (FPU) under the United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNIMSS) were last Tuesday, decorated with service medals for their outstanding peacekeeping role in the world’s youngest nation.

The officers were particularly recognised for their peacekeeping role in Malakal region of the upper Nile, where they are deployed.

The medal parade was presided over by the UNMISS Police Commissioner, Commissioner of Police (CP) Bruce Munyambo, who represented the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG).

While delivering the SRSG message, the Police Commissioner commended the Rwanda National Police peacekeepers for their professionalism and discipline displayed during their mission mandate.

“This is in recognition of your great services in ensuring peace and stability for the people of South Sudan. You served with dignity, dedication and hard work and it is a pride to the United Nations,” CP Munyambo said. Read more 

Warning to dog owners as 600 bites were recorded last year

Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) warned dog owners to have their pets vaccinated and restrained at all times.

The two institutions said that failure to implement these legal standards that are meant to prevent dog attacks on people and livestock, and subsequent spread of rabies, will further call for “severe legal actions” including culling the dogs found straying.

The call follows separate cases of stray dogs in different parts of the country, where in some cases they have bitten people.

It also follows a report by RAB, which also indicates that at least 669 people were attacked and bitten by stray dogs last year, up from 383 recorded in 2015.

 “Stray dog are dangerous and likely to cause insecurities to communities. There are standards and procedures of domesticating a dog but also punitive action will be taken against those who violate these standards and put people’s lives in danger,” said the Gasabo District Police Commander, Senior Supt. Valens Muhabwa.

Owners of dogs are required to vaccinate them and acquire a certificate of vaccination; have a leash; those walking with their dogs on streets or in communities are required to move with this certificate and a chained dog should be held by an accountable and mature person.

Statistics from RAB indicate that as of last year, there were 18,117 dogs in the country. However, only 11,375 dogs were vaccinated, leaving the status of the remaining 6,742 unknown.

At least 2870 stray dogs were also culled last year in response to the increasing attacks on people. Read more

Burera residents hailed for fighting trafficking of illicit drugs

As the Rwanda National Police (RNP) campaign against trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs rages on, residents of Burera District have been credited for their actionable response against the vice.

Burera and Gicumbi are mapped as major transit routes for drug traffickers in the Northern Province.

While addressing thousands of residents in Rusarabuye Sector in Burera last Thursday, where an assortment of contrabands seized in operations in the last two months were destroyed, the Northern region Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rogers Rutikanga hailed the residents for their upper hand to report drug dealers.

The disposed of psychotropic substance classified as narcotic drugs in Rwanda include about 500 dozens of gin in different brands valued at about Rwf2.5 million. They were seized in operations conducted in Rusarabuye, Rwerere, Bungwe and Kivuye sectors.

The pouring of the gin packed in banned biodegradable plastic bags came a day after other illicit gin worth over Rwf2 million was also disposed of in Gahunga sector. Read more

Suspected Police impersonator arrested in Nyarugenge

Police in Nyarugenge District arrested one Feston Bikorimana for allegedly masquerading as a Police officer with intent con money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Police said that on October 26, Bikorimana reportedly falsely represented himself as a police officer to a woman, whose husband is detained on suspicion of theft, and demanded Rwf200, 000 to have her husband released.

According to Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, the central region police spokesperson, Bikorimana guised as a Police officer, approached the woman, who was in court to attended court proceedings in a theft case against her husband.

Bikorimana was apprehended by residents later in the evening after noticing that he was attempting to defraud the woman, and took him to the nearby Rwezamenyo Police station. Read more

Huye: Police, Youth volunteers in community policing

The District Police Unit of Huye and members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing in the district held a meeting last Friday to discuss and streamline their joint partnership in crime prevention.

The meeting was chaired by the District Police Commander, Supt. Jean Marie Vianney Karegeya.

The DPC reminded them of their duty in supporting community development by helping the people especially the vulnerable group, adding that ensuring safety is the first step to ensure that people engage in their development activities without fear but with hope.

He noted that by building or renovating houses for the poor, they supplement the ongoing human security agenda. Read more

Two vehicles impounded in Burera trafficking contrabands

Police in Burera District impounded two vehicles and arrested two people after they were intercepted trafficking illicit gin into the country.

The intelligence-led operations were conducted on October 26 following a tip off from residents.

The District Police Commander (DPC) of Burera, Supt. Alex Fata identified the suspects, who were on board at the time, as Jean Bosco Ndinumukiza and Jean de Dieu Nkurikiyumukiza, who are both detained at Bungwe Police station, where the vehicles were also impounded to. Read more