Rwanda National Police

Since time memorial, Africa was considered a big island boiling to the brim in male chauvinism; there were literally no opportunities for women. In fact, tough tolls were taken on women who dared to speak out or come out of the framework fighting to become a significant part of the culture and times. This was the same song even in security organs, where women faces were rare.

 However, with time the pro-feminist movement which had been sweeping the entire world from America, and Africans caught the bug albeit slightly later.

In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the trends changed in Rwanda. From the liberation struggle, it was realized that Rwanda could not achieve its goals with one part of the citizens sidelined.

Women had proved their worth even in the liberation struggle, and the government introduced innovative policies and laws to ensure that females could participate equally in the transformation process.

Come June 2000, when Rwanda National Police came into existence, it became clear that to have an effective and professional force, women had to be integrated.

The leadership of RNP then embarked on empowering women both within police and protecting the rights of women and girls in general.

In 2014, RNP launched a Gender Policy Guide as a tool for gender mainstreaming within the force – and it was based mainly on increasing the size and performance of women in RNP and promoting the participation of woman in decision-making processes.

One of the longest serving female officers in RNP is Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rose Muhisoni, who currently serves as the Mess Manager.

She joined police at its inception in 2000 and has served in different capacities over the years. In an interview, SSP Muhisoni revealed her journey as one of the first senior female police officers, and what it means to serve in this capacity.

“My story begins in 1994 when I was serving as the Director of Judicial Police at the Ministry of Justice after the Genocide against the Tutsi. During that time, I took a judicial police course in Canada in 1997, where I witnessed police officers, male and female, working together to advance the safety of their community,” she says.

 “By working with police officers on a daily basis during my studies, I began to appreciate the work of law enforcers in promoting justice and peace. So when I returned to Rwanda, I had a strong desire to work in a sphere that will enable me to directly serve in promoting fairness and justice – and so I joined RNP in 2000 as a new force.”

 The mother of four had also served as a school teacher in Burundi prior to 1994. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.

 After joining police, she pursued a Masters in Peace Studies; and it is from her background that she believes that women have equal opportunities like men in police and other spheres in Rwanda.

 “Police is just like any other job. As long as one is passionate about what they do, they will succeed whether they are male or female. I sometimes come across young women who still think that they can only succeed if they get favor – but this attitude is bad. Everyone should be competitive and create their opportunities,” she says.

CIP UMURAZA Antoinette

It is from this attitude that SSP Muhisoni managed to rise through the ranks at Police, while serving in numerous positions such as Head of Child Abuse and Female Protection Unit (2000), Head of Human Resource Section (2002), Head of Anti-GBV Section (2005) and Director of Gender Promotion (2012).

 She also served under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for two years, as well as successfully completed the Senior Command and Staff Course, the highest Police academic course.

 “The situation in Rwanda is that of a complete success story for women. We have equal footing with our male counterparts and have numerous platforms on which we can serve our nation,” she notes.

 It is stories like hers that have inspired numerous women to join police and serve their nation in different capacities. When RNP was formed, it hardly had any female police officer. Today, they comprise over 20 percent of the total force.

 One of those female officers is SSP Rose Kampire, who joined police in 2011. She is an engineer by profession and currently operates as a specialist in aircraft maintenance.

 “As a young person growing up, I felt the need to serve in protecting my country against crime and unlawfulness, and it is against this background that I joined RNP,” she said.

 “Our work as women in the force is valued and we work with uttermost professionalism in order to be exemplary to the younger generation.”

SSP Rose Kampire

According to Superintendent Pelagie Dusabe, the Director of Gender Promotion Directorate – RNP has a roadmap which is in accordance with the national gender policy that seeks equal representation of all women and men in police.

 “The Gender Promotion Directorate was established to ensure capacity building of female officers, as well as to sensitize and encourage women to join police. Every quarter of a year, we organize meetings with all gender focal points in all police departments to assess the contribution of gender promotion,” Supt. Dusabe says.

 On top of that, RNP conducts the annual Police Women Convention, where all female officers gather and discuss achievements, challenges and how they can boost their contribution to national development.

 Rwanda is among the female police contributing countries to UN missions and currently maintains 30 percent female officer representation in the seven missions.

 Many RNP female officers serve in high UN positions, such as Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Antoinette Umuraza, who was late last year appointed the chairperson of the United Nations Police (UNPOL) Women Network under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

 Some others like Sergeant Felicite Mujawamariya were honored by the United Nations for excellent performance and sacrifice during their services in peacekeeping missions.

 The commitment and participation of Rwandan women at all levels is a living proof of visionary leadership under the Commander-in-Chief of security forces, President Paul Kagame, who has recognized our professional work in and outside the country and pledged to the UN an all-women Formed Police Unit of 140 officers, to be deployed in the near future to continue Rwanda’s peace building policy,” Dusabe adds.

 The Head of State made the promise last week during the UN Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping Operations.

 Supt. Dusabe urges women to join the force noting that “it’s a job like any others where you serve with patriotism, discipline and zeal.”

 “We have colleagues who are doctors, engineers, pilots and so we serve in different capacities that contribute to ensuring security and national development.”