MUHANGA- Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vianney Nshimiyimana, the Director of Financial Investigation Unit in the National Police, has called on the media and civil society to join the new disarmament process.

Nshimiyimana made the remarks, Friday, during a training of district, police and army officials in Muhanga, Kamonyi and Ngororero, on the new laws guiding firearms.
 
The law was passed in December 2009, and prescribes the legal framework on the possession and use of small arms in the country.

"Educating residents is very important and we need the support of the civil society and media in disseminating the new guidelines and laws of disarmament so as to implement the disarmament protocols,” Nshimiyimana said.

He noted that district taskforces will be given a manual on the disarmament laws and guidelines that will be used to start the process of mobilization and sensitizing of residents to hand over illegal firearms and register the legal ones.

"We need to be in position to educate residents so that all illegal weapons are handed over, and enforce the process of blocking distribution of illegal arms in the community.  This will create peace in the country and region,” Jean de la Providence Harelimana, the Muhanga civil society coordinator, said.

Muhanga District vice Mayor, Fortune Mukagatana, said that the security of residents is pivotal in development and growth.

She added that the residents’ role in voluntarily handing over the weapons or giving information will be vital.

The training was sponsored by the Ministry of Internal Security, in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat. Similar training will be held countrywide in the future.

Ends