Rwanda is no longer importing DNA test services but is providing them to more than 10 African countries following the nation’s investments in its forensic laboratory capabilities, according to the Minister of Justice, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja. He said this on Tuesday, January 21, while appearing in the Lower House’ Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs as lawmakers examined issues pertaining to his docket in the 2023/2024 report by the Office of Ombudsman. The laboratory – established in 2016 as Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, but later renamed as Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI) – has proven important in terms of forensic evidence, he said. ALSO READ: Price for DNA test to reduce by half as new lab opens Apart from serving Rwanda in terms of forensic evidence needed in court cases, Ugirashebuja said that the facility also provides services to other countries on the continent. “Previously, in case of a disputed paternity, it required us to collect samples and send them to Germany and it took about a year, and it was expensive,” he said. “That is no longer the case,” the minister said, pointing out that there are African countries which were sourcing [forensic] evidence services elsewhere, but are currently getting such services from Rwanda. Under a partnership framework, he said, Rwandan staff travel to those countries to help in the collection of samples so that they are tested in Rwanda. So far, he said, Rwanda has signed agreements with over 10 countries including South Sudan, Nigeria, and Seychelles. He added that the African Forensic Sciences Academy (AFSA) is headquartered in Rwanda because of the country’s progress in forensic domain. The Africa Forensic Science Academy is the first formally registered forensic sciences academy in Africa, representing a diverse group of forensic science professionals. Established on December 15, 2022, it is registered with Rwanda Governance Board (RGB). In an interview with The New Times, last September, Dr Antonel Olckers, president of AFSA, said that while AFSA and RFI are based in Rwanda, they serve distinct purposes. She explained that RFI aims to be a key hub for forensic science services in Africa, while AFSA solely represents and advocates for forensic scientists across the continent. ALSO READ: Lawmakers urge government to reduce DNA test cost Bringing services closer to the citizens locally MP Jeanne d'Arc de Bonheur said that brining DNA laboratory testing closer to citizens is one of the planned activities in line with improving justice delivery under the second five-year national strategy for transformation (NST2). With the only available laboratory centralised at national level, she pointed to a challenge of the long distance, for example, a teenage girl who was impregnated, and the offender, need to travel from remote areas such as in Rusizi and Nyagatare districts, to Kigali, for DNA sample collection and testing to determine paternity. She sought clarity on how such services will be decentralised. ALSO READ: What will it take for Rwanda to rein in the teenage pregnancy menace? Ugirashebuja said that the laboratory cannot be decentralised because it is expensive. But, he said, there is a solution as what can be decentralised is sample collection, by taking the service closer to the people. The minister emphasised the need to ensure effective transport means so that collected samples are intact upon their delivery to the forensic laboratory so as to ensure accurate test results.