At about 10:30am, Monday, a chartered plane carrying a Formed Police Unit (FPU) contingent of 140 officers returning home from a tour-of-duty in Haiti touched Kigali International Airport.

The officers under Rwanda FPU8 were headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Yahaya Kamunuga as its contingent commander. They were replaced by RWAFPU9, which left last Friday headed by ACP Reverien Rugwizangoga.

At KIA, the officers were received by Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, commissioner for operations, on behalf of Rwanda National Police (RNP).

"Your country commends you for the selfless service and patience. There was no case of indiscipline and you have come back home healthy; the duty continues back home and the knowledge and skills you acquired should be your weapon of effectiveness,” CP Rumanzi told the officers.

Kamunuga said: "We were sent to do a duty, which we are glad to have accomplished. We are happy that no one was hurt during our year-long peacekeeping duty in Haiti.”

"We had a duty to protect civilians, UN staff and their property and key installations; but we were also tasked with training Haitian Police. We acted as a team and we are happy that all this went well,” ACP Kamunuga said.

He added: "Security is not only physical; when one is hungry, sick or homeless, then they are insecure, so we were also involved in various human security activities including constructing and renovating houses for the vulnerable families out of financial contribution by each of these officers; provided medical services to the sick.”

Kamunuga also thanked the people of Haiti, local leaders and other peacekeepers for their "friendliness and partnership” in security and humanitarian activities including Umuganda—a monthly communal work.