English
Kinyarwanda
On May 16, Rwanda National Police (RNP) officially launched the countrywide community development activities to mark its 17th anniversary. Since 2010, RNP in collaboration with its policing partners has conducted this annual campaign best known as ‘Police Week.’
Police Week is yet another opportunity to deepen the Police-Public partnership and citizenry participation in inclusive policing as a proactive and efficient tool in crime prevention and own security.
The 4th resolution of the 13th National Dialogue of December 2015, demands deepened citizen participation in planning, monitoring, and implementation of development programmes. Police Week, therefore, responds to this demand by ensuring effective engagement between the police and the community, along with other government institutions and partners in addressing existing human security needs in collaboration with citizens as they take part in their own security and development issues.
Thus, RNP strongly believe that enhanced citizen participation in the maintenance of security produces enormous dividends that help to strengthen the pillar of law and order and to support efforts geared towards sustainable development and social wellbeing of the people.
Police Week activities
The month-long activities to mark the 17th anniversary under the flagship of the annual Police Week, focused on human security-related issues of poverty alleviation, environmental protection, health and hygiene; disaster management, raising awareness against human and drug trafficking, gender-based violence and child abuse; genocide ideology, corruption, and road safety.
The community development and anti-crime awareness activities came to a climax on Police Day – June 16 – a day when RNP was created in the year 2000 as an efficient and effective force in addressing the security challenges that were relatively high at the time.
During the month-long development activities valued at over Rwf371.7 million, RNP distributed and connected over 3400 households (at least one Village in each of the 30 districts) and 30 health centres with solar energy. The connected homes are those that are far from the national electricity grid.
Other community development activities conducted include the following;
- Medical insurance for 700 people
- Constructed two playgrounds – in Gasabo and Rutsiro districts worth Rwf53.8 million
- Fighting armyworms - sprayed 46 hectares of the affected plantations
- Constructed 150 toilets worth over Rwf23 million
- Extension of clean tap water to over 600 households in Gasabo, Burera, Kirehe, Rwamagana, Rutsiro and Nyamagabe districts – Rwf27.5 million
- In environmental protection about 20 hectares of forests were reforested; 10 hectares of terraces prepared on hilly areas, and created water trenches
- Constructed and renovated 72km of feeder roads
- Constructed nine bridges linking communities
- Constructed and renovated a combined 53 houses for the disadvantaged families
- Prepared 16 organic gardens for the disadvantaged households
On the other hand, under the ‘Safe Driving: Saves Life’ campaign, RNP erected more signposts and either created or repainted Zebra Crossings in hotspots especially around schools.
Police Day
The Police Day held on June 16, was presided over by HE Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.
The colourful ceremony held at Kigali stadium was also attended by other senior government officials and attracted about 10, 000 partners in policing organized in various groups including members of Community Policing Committees, Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community policing, Anti-crime clubs from schools, commercial motorcyclists associations, Anti-crime Ambassadors mainly composed of local artistes, and members of District Administrative Security Support Organ (DASSO), among others.
The Head of State commended the existing partnership between the public and RNP, saying that this ideal be deepened to further ensure peace and security, which the country deserves in its transformation process.
President Kagame said: “The Police cannot succeed when working alone but it can achieve its goals when working in collaboration with citizens.â€
In his strategic guidance, the Head of State said that for the police to sustain and further achieve public trust, confidence, professionalism, self-respect and discipline, they should always be define their values, which ultimately contribute to the country’s transformation process.
“Rwandans should have trust, confidence and be part of their police,†the President said.
The celebrations also included the pass-out of the ninth cadet intake of 363 officers, who were conferred upon the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
The ‘Police Week 2017’ anniversary activities were conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure, and its affiliated institutions – Rwanda Energy Group (REG), and Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) as well as other ministries including Justice, Local Government, Gender and Family Promotion, and Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs.
