Rwanda National Police

For years now, Rwanda National Police (RNP) has been actively involved in resolving incidences related to domestic conflicts and spousal assault in particular, which were common in households and communities in general in the past.

In most cases, these domestic wrangles are fueled by property disputes, drunkenness and drugs abuse especially of male spouses which lures them to battering their wives for no particular reason and ignorance, among others.

According to the latest Police report, 476 women were battered by their wives in 2014 up from 242 in the previous year while 24 men were also assaulted by their spouses compared to 22 a year before.

Supt. Mukamana, the Director of RNP Anti-GBV and Child Protection directorate attributed the increase to awareness programmes the force conducts periodically, thus victims breaking silence.

Since the beginning of this year, three cases of assault have been reported. Those reported this year include the one that happened in Ruharambuga sector in Nyamasheke District on January 6, where a man assaulted his 50 year old father over land disputes.

In 2001, RNP established a ‘Child and Protection Unit’ that was later upgraded to a ‘Gender Desk’ in 2005.

In order to comprehensively investigate cases of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, and conduct mass campaigns to fight and prevent the vice, the force, in 2011, upgraded the desk to a fully-fledged ‘Directorate of Anti-GBV and Child Protection.’

“Incidences related to domestic and gender based violence were relatively high in the past where men would batter their wives for no reason or even over a simple quarrel; children assaulted parents or fought amongst themselves over land disputes and these issues would in most cases go unreported,” Supt. Mukamana, said.

“Although these issues are still there, there’s a commendable turn up of victims of domestic and gender based violence breaking silence on challenges they face due to much awareness campaigns the force together with partners, conducts periodically and has narrowed the illiteracy gap; spouses and communities have been educated on how to avoid these disputes and where to lodge their complaints and there’s a big turn up,” she noted.

Recent figures from Police also indicate that a total of 3,127 cases of defilement were registered between 2012 and 2013. At least 325 cases of rape were also recorded in the same period.

Between July and August this year alone, 567 cases related to GBV and child abuse were reported across the country.

Statistics further indicate that between 2006 and 2011, RNP investigated and handled 12, 992 cases of SGBV.

The force also conducts periodic awareness campaigns against domestic and gender based violence and to engage the general public

Currently, the force conducts house to house reconciling identified couples embroiled in domestic conflicts.

In December last year, twenty-eight couples in Kabacuzi sector of Muhanga district that were facing domestic conflicts were reconciled.

Among them was one Vedaste Seminani, 43, who was being accused by his wife, Jeanne Umugwaneza of ignoring his family responsibilities and spending family incomes on alcohol and assaulting his wife and taunting children when drunk.

Supt. Mukamana appealed to communities to identify families that could be facing domestic conflicts so that their issues can be handled before they turn violent.

Other domestic and GBV related crimes are fueled by drugs abuse like consumption of narcotics and illicit brew and gin.

According to Senior Supt. Urbain Mwiseneza, the Director of Anti-Narcotics directorate in RNP said fighting drug abuse is among the force’s priorities.

“We conduct awareness campaigns, engage the youth, the most affected, in spearheading the fight by forming anti-crime clubs in schools, conduct investigations based on credible information provided by members of the public through community policing, and mount snap checks on highways with sniffer dogs, where dealers or suppliers are arrested to face justice,” said SSP Mwiseneza.

Under article 594 of the penal code, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country faces a prison sentence of three to five years and a fine of Rwf500, 000 and Rwf5 million.

Late last year, RNP conducted awareness against drugs in 200 schools and trained over 700 youth in crime prevention, on top of other annual awareness directed to further bridging the Police-public gap in crime prevention.