Rwanda National Police

Thirty Senior Police officers from eight African countries, on July 6, graduated after successfully completing a one-year Police Senior Command and Staff course at Rwanda National Police College(NPC) in Musanze District.

The graduands of the third intake of NPC 's highest academic course were from Burundi, Ethiopia Gambia, Kenya, Namibia, South Sudan,  Uganda and Rwanda, the hosts.

The one-year course offers strategic Command and leadership as well Master’s programme in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation offered in partnership with the Centre for Conflict Management of the University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Science.

It combines Police components, which include command, and operational staff work offered by Rwanda National Police, and a level seven certificate in strategic management and leadership.

The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, conferred the 30 grandaunds with certificates and decorated them with the PSC symbol (Passed-Staff-College.)

“I, Musa Fazil Harerimana, Minister of Internal Security, responsible for RNP, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and by virtual of authority entrusted to him by the law, on the occasion of your completion of Police Senior Command and Staff in this college I do hereby confer to you the title of Passed Staff College from this day,” minister Harerimana, who officiated at the colorful ceremony, said.

The Minister told attendants in his address that; “This is yet another indication of the great extent to which Rwanda National Police has moved towards its vision to see people in Rwanda safe, involved and reassured, by increasingly building the capacity of its personnel at all levels.”

Just like the previous two intakes, Harerimana said, the sharing of experiences and learning together constitutes a milestone in consolidating the regional cooperation and integration especially in the domain of law enforcement.

“The inseparable link between human resource development and better service delivery to the people is the key to professionalism and a culture of efficiency which contributes to a nation’s progress. I am confident that the knowledge acquired will not only benefit the granduands but also their nations and the continent,” the Minister said.

He pledged that government’s support to RNP in capacity building efforts and academic programmes and also urged granduands to maintain the bond they formed since the beginning of the course in the interest of sharing experience.

The course acquired by the officers is the highest conducted by NPC. It was designed to impart selected senior police officers with strategic management, leadership command and policing skills as it opens them to the global understanding of the contemporary peace and conflict management.

The graduation was attended by dignitaries from different countries including Rwandan Senior government, Police, and military officers.

Among them include; Rwanda's Minister of Defense Gen James Kabarebe, Minister of Education Dr. Papias Malimba Musafiri, IGP Emmanuel K. Gasana, Airforce Chief of Staff Brig Gen Joseph Demali and senior lecturers from University of Rwanda who offered lectures to the graduands

Foreign dignitaries who graced the occasion include Uganda’s Minister of State for Tesso Affairs, Christine Amongin Aporu, Gambian Inspector General of Police Ben Wilson, South Sudan’s Assistant Inspector General of Police for General Administration, Lt Gen. Abraham Peter Manyuat and the Police attaché at Uganda High Commission in Rwanda ACP Patrick Lawot.

“As the college we strongly believe that contemporary policing environment compels us to share these skills with other African countries because in policing no countries can go alone...it is in this spirit that that the course attracted 30 participants from eight African countries,” NPC commandant, Commissioner of Police Felix Namuhoranye, said.

During the period of one year, participants were taken through a combined programme addressing both professional and academic needs at the strategic police command level.

“I know that the training has been demanding but I hope it was also educative and rewarding. I am confident that, for many of you, this was a critical opportunity to build on your field of exposure. In order to maintain the college standards we will continue to review the existing programmes to meet the needs of the changing policing environment,' CP Namuhoranye said.

RNP, he said, has embarked on procedures to apply for a stand-alone college status.

“This status will enable the college to independently design and keep adapting professional and academic programmes addressing the real needs of  the rapid changing environment of  policing without having to go through long processes.'

During the ceremony, Minister Harerimana also awarded the three best performing students; Superintendent Barbara Alungat from Uganda Police Force was awarded  with the best commander’s paper award for presenting the best academic paper, while The Gambia’s Chief Superintendent of Police Mustafa Ndong scooped the best allied student’s award for his exceptional academic command and leadership qualities exhibited in different capacities.

The overall best student’s award went to Chief Superintendent of Police Robert Niyonshuti for demonstrating outstanding leadership, management and command coupled with advanced academic abilities and teamwork.

Speaking about his award, CSP Niyonshuti attributed his progress to hardwork and cooperation with colleagues to deliver as a team.

“We needed to work as a team, encourage each other and be creative in linking theories with practice,” CSP Niyonshuti said.

The Best Allied Award was meant for the best foreign student. According to Ndong, his coming to Rwanda was from cooperation between the two IGPs of Rwanda and The Gambia in an effort to strengthen relations.

“The course is very demanding but through dedication I made it… for the time I’ve been in Rwanda my learning wasn’t limited to the confines of the college walls, I have a very positive impression about Rwanda ranging from discipline, environmental cleanliness and how people are selfless towards nation building,' Ndong said.

Prior to the graduation ceremony the students held internal and External study tours in two groups in Namibia  and Kenya and also had a symposium on Crime, Security and Justice.