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The following are some of the major activities conducted by RNP in the week under review
RNP launches ‘Police Week-2015’ activities
On June 9, Rwanda National Police launched the 6th edition of the annual Police Week activities in Musanze district under the ‘15 Years of Partnership in Policing’ as it continued to strengthen awareness against crime, educate people on trends and impact of crime to close the gap and improve the Police-public engagement.
It is also a time to share best policing practices, reassure people living in Rwanda, contribute to the well-being of communities, and appreciate support from partners and an opportunity to account to the community in line with safeguarding the fundamental rights.
The Minister for Local Government, Francis Kaboneka, who presided over the official launch, called upon Rwandans to work together in the spirit of patriotism to overcome crime, and also partner with law enforcers to solve and prevent crimes efficiently.
“The main problem today is that parents and guardians do not spend enough time with their children to talk about the values of patriotism and thus, they become susceptible to a life of crime when they grow older. We need to reemphasis our traditional values of nurturing children so that our country can have a better future,” Minister Kaboneka said.
“The youth should concentrate more on their education and careers rather than collaborate with criminals such as drug dealers, or waste their talents and time in worthless activities that will undermine their safety and their future.”
The activities attended by thousands of residents, local leaders and partners in policing were also conducted in the Western, Southern and Eastern provinces where RNP reached out to the disadvantaged communities.
The donations include four houses it built in Nyanza district, two motorcycles, 19 cows and money given to different cooperatives.
RNP launches ‘Environmental Protection Unit’
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) established a special unit charged with protecting the environment, as the force gears towards ensuring sustainable development.
The ‘Environmental Police Protection Unit (EPPU)’ was launched on June 11 at the RNP headquarters in Kacyiru as an initiative between RNP and the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA).
The new unit will have the powers to arrest, summon and investigate all kinds of environmental related crimes.
While officiating at the official launch of the EPPU, the Minister of Land and Natural Resources commended stakeholders for working tirelessly with Rwanda National Police to make the launch of the Unit a success.
“Environmental crimes have frequently ranked low on the law enforcement priority list, they are often less known than other crimes yet they impose a security and safety threat to development. If not checked, such actions hinder our committed pathway to sustainable economic growth,” Minister Biruta said.
He pledged to further support the newly established Unit, through different initiatives to ensure environment is efficiently protected.
Rwandan Police peacekeepers in Haiti decorated
The Rwanda Formed Police Unit five (RWAFPU5) contingent of 140 officers serving under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, on June 11 received UN service medals for their excellent peacekeeping duties in the Caribbean nation.
While presiding over the medal award ceremony, Sandra Honre, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of Mission in Haiti, expressed satisfaction of the "work done and discipline displayed by Rwandan Police officers" during their year-long peacekeeping duties.
She commended Rwanda for its exceptional global peacekeeping activities and being among the most contributing countries.
"When the troubled region of Darfur in Sudan needed external help, Rwanda was the first country to intervene," she stated.
She further commended the Rwandan peacekeepers in Haiti for their role in community policing, joint operations with United Nations Police (unpol) and supporting the National Police of Haiti (PNH).
The Rwanda FPU contingent commander, Commissioner of Police (CP) Bruce Munyambo, in his remarks, outlined protection of UN personnel, provision of security in Grand Anse region, public order management, community policing such as provision of medical emergency to the local population and community work in partnership with the local population, as some of the significant achievements of the Rwanda FPU5.
The contingent commander further thanked his team for having displayed the "highest standard of discipline and adhering to the UN core values" of professionalism, integrity and respect of diversity.
He noted that Rwanda remains willing and committed to international peace building.
Police seize counterfeit agricultural chemicals and illicit substances
Rwanda National Police (RNP) on June 12 exhibited an assortment of counterfeited agricultural medicines including sprays and fertilizers, as well as illicit substances which were seized during Usalama operation conducted last week countrywide.
The value of illicit drugs only is worth US$16, 000, approximately Rwf11.4 million while the rest of the mixed items could not be determined at the time. The police operation, Usalama II lasted for two days from June 4th to 5th, 2015.
The operation was initiated and conducted simultaneously in the Eastern and Southern Africa regions (EAPCCO and SARPCCO) member countries. To ensure the operational effectiveness and deny criminals chances to escape operations from one region to another if operations where done in different periods. Some of the seized fake or banned products were also expired.
During the operation, Police also intercepted a vehicle believed to have been stolen from Netherlands, illicit drugs, as well as a suspect involved in human trafficking activities.
On top of fighting against counterfeited products, Usalama II also promotes coordination against crossborder crimes including human trafficking, vehicle thefts, illicit drugs Terrorism and more, Police Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Celestin Twahirwa, said.
Italian, American peacekeeping experts here for training
A team of American and Italian trainers was received on June 15 to begin a pre-deployment training for Formed Police Units and commanders.
The FPUs that will be trained are scheduled for peacekeeping operations under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
“The expert trainers will offer FPUs the required mentorship and skills development prior to being deployed for peacekeeping operations. I urge you – trainees – to explore this opportunity and fulfill all requirements, so that at the end of this course we should have competent FPU personnel who can train extent the skills to others,” ACP Jimmy Hodari, Commissioner for Peace Support Operations in RNP, said.
Zanzibar MPs commend Isange One Stop Centre
A delegation of five Members of Parliament from Zanzibar, on June 8 visited Isange One Stop Centre at Kacyiru Police Hospital and appreciated the achievements registered by the centre as far as addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) an child abuse is concerned.
Mgeni Hassan, the head of delegation commended Rwanda National Police (RNP) for its significant efforts in addressing GBV issues by providing timely and cost-free medical and psychological needs to victims.
“We came here to learn from what the center has achieved. We are very impressed with the manner in which a GBV case is responded to and how a victim is treated. This should be a model to other African states on how to handle GBV cases,” said Mgeni.
Ngoma in new drive against drugs abuse
Hundreds of residents in Ngoma District joined Police officers operating in the area to denounce and campaign against trade and use of illicit drugs.
The exercise held in Kibungo Sector on June 9, started with a 'Walk against drug abuse' and included the destruction of the seized drugs that include about 200 kilogrammes of cannabis and over 900 liters of Kanyanga, a banned crude gin.
It was also attended by local leaders, youth and students, commercial motorcyclists
Supt. Paul Byuma, the Ngoma District Police Commander, while speaking shortly after the public destruction of drugs, noted that some of the common crimes in the district are fueled and committed by drug users.
He singled out cases of assaults especially in bars where these illicit drinks are sold and consumed, domestic violence and petty theft as some of the crimes that are caused by use of such dangerous drugs.
"You should not allow such crimes to persist in your societies, and the best way to stop that is to break the main causes. You are also empowered to identify and fight what can hamper your safety, security and peace by providing information about such individuals," Supt. Byuma said.
