It was colourful ceremony at the Musanze-based National Police College in Musanze District on Thursday, July 14, as 34 senior officers from eight African countries completed a one-year Police Senior Command and Staff Course.

The graduation ceremony of the 10th intake was attended by senior law enforcement officers from Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.

The police senior command and staff course comprises three main components, namely a police professional career programme, master’s degree in peace studies and conflict transformation and a post-graduate diploma in strategic leadership and management. 

The graduation ceremony of the 10th intake  took place in Musanze on July 14.Courtesy

The event was presided over by the Minister of Interior, Alfred Gasana, who urged the officers to use the acquired knowledge to bring solutions to law enforcement challenges.

"Today, we are here to celebrate your achievements as well as your efforts, hard work, team spirit, commitment and resilience without which you would not have successfully completed this highly demanding course," Minister Gasana said.

He added: "Peace and security in our countries depend on the amount of efforts deployed to prevent or disrupt crimes; minimize, manage or transform conflicts that are unavoidable in any human society.”

Also in attendance were the Inspector General of Rwanda National Police Dan Munyuza, his counterparts from Namibia (Gen Sebastian Ndeitunga) and Somalia (Maj Gen Abdi Hassan Mohammed). Others are Senior Assistant Commissioner of Zambian Police Service Betty N. Timba and the Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force Lt. Gen. Mubarak Muganga.

Veda Sunassee, the CEO of the African Leadership University, a new partner with the RNP Senior Command and Staff Course addresses the event

In Rwanda, Minister Gasana said, the Genocide against the Tutsi was a culmination of a long time unresolved issues of divisionism and discrimination followed by exclusion, bad governance, structural violence and impunity. 

"In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, we have witnessed how the promotion of individual security, unity, reconciliation, fair justice and good governance contributed to social cohesion, peace towards accelerated development," he said.

The participation of law enforcement officers from African countries, Minister Gasana said, is an "expression of African solidarity towards finding African solutions to African challenges and building the Africa we want."

The Commandant of the National Police College, Commissioner of Police Rafiki Mujiji said that the course required a high level of discipline and determination to achieve goals set by the officers.

"Your positive attitude, hard-work spirit and discipline exhibited throughout the course have made today's celebrations possible," Mujiji said.

Prof. Nosa Egiebor, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, congratulated the senior officers upon their graduation and urged them to be ambassadors of the institution that trained them.

"As you move on to your various duty posts to take on your professional assignments as peace and security officers, you must remember that the authority entrusted on you comes with huge responsibilities to your people and society to provide exemplary leadership for the resolution of the contemporary peace, security and conflict related challenges of your time," Egiebor said.

Veda Sunassee, the CEO of the African Leadership University, a new partner with the RNP Senior Command and Staff Course, expressed commitment to the sustainability and efficiency of the course.

"We are privileged to have a potential partner in Rwanda National Police. Pan-Africanism is a core identified as what we do. Thank you for entrusting us with this responsibility to deliver this leadership programme. You are one of our best and greatest partners and we look forward to a continued journey."

Best performing students were awarded, where Senior Superintendent of Police Peter Mwale Kalaya from Malawi was recognized for the overall best research paper; SSP Fatuma Hadi Ali from Kenya emerged the overall best student; SP Faustin Munyabarenzi from RNP came second while Brig Gen Abraham Dut Deng Dut from South Sudan was awarded as third overall best student.