Rwanda National Police (RNP) and local artistes under a group known as Anti-crime Ambassadors have signed a memorandum of understanding to partner in various activities aimed at promoting public safety and other government development programmes.

The agreement was signed yesterday between Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Celestin Twahirwa, the commissioner for Community Policing in RNP, and Ally Hussein Muganga, the coordinator of the artistes forum.

The signing event, held at the RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru, was presided over by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana.

Present also was Fred Mufuruki, the Director General of Territorial Administration and Governance in the Ministry of Local Government, and heads of various RNP departments, among others.

The anti-crime ambassadors’ forum, which has MP Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi as its patron includes musicians, comedians, producers, journalists, movie actors and gospel artistes, among others.

Under the formalised partnership, both parties committed to work together in various policing fields, including crime prevention, raising awareness against drug-related crimes, human trafficking, radicalisation, gender based violence and child abuse.

Other areas of partnership include promoting community policing initiatives of real time information on anti criminal activities, neighbourhood watch activities, environmental protection, protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups, and active involvement in government development programmes.

IGP Gasana noted that Rwanda’s safety and security relies heavily on such proactive partnerships, which empowers every Rwandan and eases flow of information as a basis for quick response and crime prevention.

"Every generation has a mission… let’s do away with generation gaps which lead to wasted generation that falls prey to drug abuse, human trafficking,” IGP Gasana said.

"Carry the pride of moving towards sustainable security and development. You, therefore, equally have a big mission in the country’s transformation. Your respective talents are powerful tools in shaping focused generations,” he added.

"It is security and development that we all stand for to guide, unite, prevent, carry the light of dignity, patriotism, and love and unity with the ultimate goal of nurturing law abiding citizens.”

Thomas Buyombo, alias Tom Close, the spokesperson for the anti-crime ambassadors’ forum, said that the idea to engage in such partnership is informed by the good leadership of inclusiveness under President Paul Kagame.

"Each profession and talent can make massive change if put to good and constructive use. We will, therefore, use our respective talents in music, comedy, as presenters on radios and TV, as producers and movie actors, to advocate for safety and development,” Tom Close said.

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