Rwanda National Police

Members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing, yesterday, conducted special Umuganda in Ruhango and Nyabihu districts where they were joined by residents in human security activities.

The activities include improving sanitation and hygiene through construction of toilets, laying bricks and construction of houses for the disadvantaged, donating livestock as well as supporting youth cooperatives and preparing organic gardens.

In Nyabihu, they donated two bicycles to a cyclist cooperative.

The youth countrywide activities are mainly focused on raising awareness against crimes as well as supporting the country's development agenda.

While speaking in Ruhango, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Celestin Twahirwa, the commissioner for Community Policing in Rwanda National Police, commended the youth for their volunteerism noting that it is significant in the country's transformation process.

"What you are doing defines the national values of being the solutions to our problems, and a clear definition of good governance towards sustainable development," ACP Twahirwa said.

"Rwanda went through a period of bad leadership that instilled hatred among Rwandans, and the outcome was the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda now has a visionary leadership that values everyone and unity of all Rwandans, which all citizens should always strive for," he added.

He highlighted corruption, injustices drug abuses and gender based violence as some of the crimes that should be given emphasis in fighting them through partnership with police.

Present was also the mayor of Ruhango, Epimaque Twagirimana, who also thanked the voluntary acts of the youth to be the source of the country's development, and commended the existing partnership with the police to create crime-free communities.

In Nyabihu, the deputy commissioner for community policing, Chief Supt. Rose Muhisoni echoed the same message, and challenged the youth to continue to play a central role in rebuilding their country and sustaining what has been achieved.

"Security includes having health people, and that requires each and everyone to have health insurance and also food. A hungry person is an insecure one, and this brings us back to the issue of hard work as we collectively own and implement the national development programmes geared towards poverty alleviation and healthy living," Chief Supt. Muhisoni said.

According to Jean Bosco Mutangana, the head of training in the youth organisation, these human security activities started during the Police Week period and will end on July 4.

"In general, these community development activities are under the auspice of liberation where we will also be giving out medical insurance and supporting the poor in different capacities," Mutangana said.

The youth volunteers organisation currently has over 100, 000 members countrywide, who include students and the working class youth.