Police, partners move to reverse trend of illicit drugs in Kigali

A campaign to reverse the trend of abuse of narcotic drugs in Nyarugenge District was launched yesterday as police, government ministries and parastatals, faith-based organisations, among others, came together to sensitise residents, especially the youth, on dangers of substance abuse. Nyarugenge suburbs are among the destinations to the highest volumes of drugs in the City of Kigali. Officials and thousands of youth engaged in a walk against drugs through the most notorious neighbourhoods of ‘California’ and ‘Tarinyonta’ both in Nyarugenge Sector, and Matimba in Rwezamenyo Sector, which are said to be the hub for drug lords. They also visited the Ubworoherane Village in Nyakabanda Sector, formerly the den for drug dealers and commercial sex workers, but has since reformed and now considered as a “smart village”. Residents contributed money towards buying of CCTV cameras and with the support of the district; they launched ‘Irondo Shop’ where their community night patrol officers will buy groceries at subsidised prices. After this, they all met at Club Rafiki in Rwezamenyo where testimonies from rehabilitated addicts and drama on dangers of drugs by community health workers in the area gave a live picture on the consequences of abusing drugs. “I started abusing drugs in 2003 and for 13 years I was held hostage by drugs. I became a thief, I started assaulting people and I know many of you here are victims of my bad past,” said Jean Paul Bikorimana, one of the reformed dealer and addict. Indeed, Bikorimana’s life is now headed for the better after graduating from Iwawa-based Rehabilitation and Vocational Skills Development Centre (IRVSDC) with vocational skills in carpentry, brought together his colleagues to start Tuzamurane cooperative that also deals in carpentry. Today, Tuzamurane has 32 members, 18 of them graduated of Iwawa and other abusers they took off the streets and gave them basic skills. The Minister for Youth, Rosemary Mbabazi, who presided over the event, said that the government embarked on prevention rather than dealing with the consequences of drugs. “Illicit drugs are like cancer; your life deteriorates, kills your brain, blinds you and diverts you from the noble cause. It is an individual and collective responsibility to make our villages free from crime and drugs in particular by reporting dealers,” Minister Mbabazi said. Between 2010 and 2015, the Neuro-psychiatric Hospital of Ndera received 1,432 patients with mental illness caused by use of drugs, according to statistics from Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). The number increased to 2804 in 2016 but recorded a slight decrease to 1960 last year. Huye Isange Rehabilitation Centre received 209 cases, last year. Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana said that drugs are the major cause of other crimes citing assault, defilement, theft, domestic and gender-based violence, and child abuse. “The approach is multifaceted; close monitoring and proper upbringing of children by parents, sensitization and education, rehabilitation of addicts, arrests and prosecution of dealers. Last year, we arrested over 4000 drug dealers and since the beginning of this year we have arrested over 1000 dealers; it’s a continuous multifaceted approach” IGP Gasana said. The campaign is part of the ongoing Police Week that focuses on driving the philosophy of community centred policing down to the grassroots to create crime-free villages. The first week of the 18th anniversary activities focuses on raising awareness against drugs with a particular emphasis on targeting the market to prevent more users, rehabilitate the addicted and strengthen partnership to break supply chains. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Police, partners move to reverse trend of illicit drugs in Kigali