A total of 149 prison warders, including 32 women, were on Thursday passed out at the Rwanda Correction Services (RCS) training school in Rwamagana, Eastern Province.

The group trained in basic warder disciplines for nine months.

Speaking at the pass-out ceremony, Justice minister Johnston Busingye stressed the exceptionality of RCS from other judicial institutions.

"RCS receives law breakers and corrects and train them such that their perception of how to relate with community changes,” said Busingye.

He said the kinds of people the prisons receive are sometimes breadwinners of families or adorable children or friends but warders should not forget that the same people are trouble causers to others in their communities.

"This means they should be handled beyond individuality, with the aim of reforming an individual who will be useful to their family and the community upon release,” said Busingye.

He called upon RCS to organise learning workshops where warders can share knowledge among themselves.

The Commandant of RCS Training School, Edward Wakubirwa, said this was the second intake.

The training covered prison duties, physical fitness, weapon handling, security, map reading, prison management, among others.

He said all trainees passed above average and urged them to "embrace the opportunity and knowledge” they acquired and serve as "professionally mature warders.”

Meanwhile, RCS has resolved to incorporate its goals into the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This was agreed at the closure of a three-day retreat of RCS directors that concluded on the same day, RCS Commissioner-General George Rwigamba said.

"We reviewed the goals set last year and found that much was achieved and while remaining, like some law amendments, are in the process,” he said.

"This time round, we aligned our goals with the Sustainable Development Goals and those of other institutions in the judicial system so that we can be uplifted together,” Rwigamba explained.

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