President Kagame addresses Police High Council, inaugurates new headquarters

President Paul Kagame, yesterday addressed the Rwanda National Police (RNP) supreme organ – Police High Council – and challenged the force to aim for “quality.” About 300 senior officers attended the council meeting.

The Head of State thanked the force for the policing work they do for the good of Rwandans and the country in general.

He noted that for a Police officer to fulfill his or her duties diligently, they must be guided by the will, training and professionalism, all of which ultimately produce quality outcome.

The President urged the officers to always give value to what they do, adding that it shouldn’t be how big or the physical presence of the force, but rather what the numbers can deliver.

“We can have numbers but we can’t compensate quality,” President Kagame said.

He went on to say that the realistic part of it is to identify the problem at hand as means to address it to “ensure security, safety and making sure that we have a stable environment.”

“The discipline of the force, the ideology that clearly drives the force, the service you render… in most cases this is the most difficult part but it could also be the simplest,” he said.

The president reminded the officers to be just and “make sure that justice prevails.”

In his guidance, he also hinted on various issues that include cooperation, fighting corruption, human trafficking, child protection, among other issues related to crime prevention.

“Our country survives and thrives on how well we are able to put all these into account and how we practice what we say and preach,” the Head of State said.

“The puzzle is how you create so much value from almost nothing and yet, we must because we have and should be ambitious.”

“Our Police force should always be guided by thinking, keep going forward and minimising those things that can hinder progress. This nation needs to be done proud by every individual and collectively so that we get rid of the things that undermine our ambition.”

He urged the officers to pride themselves in the work they do and do their duty as best as they can.

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana thanked the Head of State for the continued strategic guidance and support, which continues to drive the force further.

Others in attendance were ministers, Musa Fazil Harerimana of Internal Security, Gen. James Kabarebe of Defence, Louis Mushikiwabo of Foreign Affairs, Jean Philbert Nsengimana of Youth and ICT, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, Secretary General of NISS, Brig Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita and the Commissioner General of RCS, Brig. Gen George Rwigamba, among others.

Earlier on, the Head of State inaugurated the newly constructed Rwanda National Police (RNP) General headquarters building in Kacyiru.

The four-storied building valued at over Rwf4.5 billion was built in one-and-half years.

It has about 100 offices that accommodate more than 200 officers and a 340-seater conference hall, among others.

It also has a waste treatment plant with the water used for irrigation while the tapped and stored water used for firefighting.

The New Times

UM– USEKE.RW