Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The symposium organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP) under the theme: ‘Confronting Emerging Security Threats in Africa’ is part of the ‘Police Senior Command and Staff Course (PSCSC)’ which brings together senior Police students from across Africa.

The current ninth intake is attended by 32 law enforcement officers from five countries—Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, South Sudan and Rwanda, the host.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye, while officially opening the symposium, said that the world is confronted with numerous and complex challenges including ethnic conflicts and wars, transnational organized crimes, pandemics, natural disasters, proliferation of weapons and arms, climate change, migration and xenophobia.

It was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) Juvenal Marizamunda, and Deputy IGP in charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza.

“As a result of globalization, rapid socio-economic development, information communication technology and knowledge dispersal, some of these threats are growing more complex and new forms thereof are emerging especially in Africa.
NPC Commandant, Commissioner of Police (CP) Christophe Bizimungu said that the conference aims to expand the knowledge of the students beyond what they learned in class and to have extensive knowledge and experience in the field of peace, security, and justice.

“The conference will explore the impact of media on security, the role of technological advancements in security, and environmental challenges. These topics are of interest at the present time and for many years to come,” said CP Bizimungu.

It is, therefore, evident that addressing these security threats in an efficient manner requires senior security managers be equipped with state-of-the art knowledge and skills as well as a deep understanding of the national, regional, and global security dynamics,” Minister Busingye said.

He added that the theme of the symposium enables the Police Senior Command and Staff Course participants—as senior police leaders and managers—to think about customized strategies to effectively respond to the emerging security threats in their respective countries.

Panelists on the first day of the symposium include the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, Dr. Almerindo Graziano, the CEO of SILENSEC, a UK-based Information Security Management Consulting and Training company, and Col. David Kanamugire, the CEO of National Cyber Security Authority; who tackled the ‘policing in the modern information and communication technology era’ and ‘media and security.’

‘Media and Security: proactive role in building secure and coherent societies’ also took the centre of discussion on the first day of the symposium as media specialists; renowned journalist Charles Onyango Obbo, Lt. Col. Claude Nkusi, Yolande Makolo, Dr. Fredrick Gooloba Mutebi and Dr. Lonzen Rugira; who divulged more on how the role of security institutions and that of the media are interdependent in sovereign and democratic societies.

The smart classroom initiative seeks to equip Rwandan schools with ICT infrastructure that facilitates digitalisation of learning and teaching processes.

The smart classroom project was launched in 2018, with an aim of integrating ICT pedagogy and skills in education. An online platform, named smart class, was also established, with a view to facilitate students to access learning materials even when they are not physically at school.

Inaugurated at Gikondo Campus on 12th June 2021, the smart classroom was built in partnership with The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and UR with a view to facilitate students’ attendance to virtual classes particularly for lecturers from Kiel University and Institute for World Economy teaching from Germany.

GIZ has been partnering with UR in the areas of research development, distributing books for students, computers among other didactic materials aimed at promoting quality education.

Ksenija Maver, the Project Leader of Macroeconomic and Investment Policies Program (MIP) has explained that the room aligns with existing initiatives to promote technology and facilitate e-learning.

“As you have seen, this classroom is equipped with advanced technology helping students to attend online classes from Kigali while the lecturer is based at Kiel Institute. With the technology, learning online is almost the same as attending classes physically. It is very much needed particularly during COVID-19 to continue classes even when there is no physical class,” she said.

Ksenija stated that the smart classroom will also be used by other students in different programs and the university management meetings held virtually.

A lecturer in the department of Economics at UR, Dr. Charles Ruhara has said that the classroom gives relief to students who would hardly have access to internet to attend online classes.

“Learning online has been recommended due to COVID-19 but some students would not attend classes appropriately due to slow internet or the teacher would be unavailable. With the smart classroom, e-learning will go smoothly,” he noted.

Dr. Ruhara revealed that one classroom is not enough for all students that more will be built depending on available means.

One of Masters students, Sebeza Celestin said that the classroom comes in handy because some of them did not have laptops to follow up courses.

“The smart classroom is very helpful. With it, we are optimistic for improved performance while students will be concentrated during classes without disruptions, hence, improving quality education,” he observed.

GIZ has since 2018 provided over US$ 1 million funding to the University of Rwanda in different areas including construction of the launched smart classroom and scholarships for Masters students among others.

Bars are among services that are still closed as part of the national measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Police and local leaders found the group at about 10pm drinking in the bar belonging to one Jean Damascene Uwijuru, 32, located in Gataba Village, Ruhunga Cell.

The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said the violators were found drinking and gambling.

“Residents called local leaders reporting a bar, which was operating and with a big gathering inside drinking. Local leaders, after confirming the information, called the Police, they went there at about 10pm and managed to arrest 19 people but many others fled in the process,” SP Kanamugire said.

Some of the arrested violators were found hiding in different rooms of the bar.

There were previous reports that Uwijuru has been operating the bar. This is the second time he has been arrested over the same violations.

“Uwijuru was previously arrested for the same violations, educated on the government directives and health guidelines against Covid-19, and fined.

Now this is deliberate because he knows that what he was doing is wrong and prohibited and worse still operating during prohibited working hours… when everyone is required to be at home.

Basically, it is a combinations of many violations; operating a bar, social gathering and violating the curfew.”

The spokesperson warned against such errant behaviours in this critical period, which can cost some people’s lives.

He commended members of the public, who facilitate enforcement through information sharing on violators.

The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 78, Musanze: 42, Burera: 38, Rubavu: 32 and Rulindo: 20.

The statement released last night shows that 263 people have caught the virus out of 5676 sample tests.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 29 175 people have been tested positive of whom 26 383 recovered, 2416 are active cases, 11 are critically ill while 376 have succumbed to the virus.

A total of 389,832 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

Law n°71/2018 of 31/08/2018 relating to the protection of the child defines a child as “any person under eighteen (18) years of age.”

It also defines ‘harassing a child’ as ‘any act that causes or may be harmful to the health be physical or emotional or which may deprive the child his or her rights.

According to, a child is any person below the age of 18. As such, just like any other person, a child has rights. Article 19 the Convention on the Rights of the Child (protection from all forms of violence) states that “Children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally.

In implementing these legal instruments and to protect children from any harm, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) GBV and Child protection directorate in partnership with ‘Masenge Mba Hafi, a local NGO, have started home visits for children, who are victims of sexual violence. The outreach started on Tuesday, June 15, in Rukara Sector Kayonza District.

Masenge Mba Hafi aims to educate and empower pregnant teenagers or teen mothers, monitor, and help them with their problems.

At least 91 minor girls were sexually abused in Rukara Sector alone leading to teen pregnancy, with 67 of them now teenage mothers.

“There are pregnant teens or teen mothers, who also face challenges in their families where they are neglected, and this makes the situation worse because it affects them greatly including the unborn or newborn baby. These are some of the concerns we are trying to address as we meet these affected young girls and their parents,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rose Muhisoni.

She added that some of the affected teen mothers have expressed concerns of lack of care, which affects both the young mother and the baby.

“This outreach is about encouraging these adolescent mothers to break silence, report those who sexually abused them to face the law but also the challenges they face to get necessary support,” said ACP Muhisoni.

She warned against child abuse and sexual violence in particular and called upon the public to be responsive against these human rights violations by reporting those responsible to face justice.

ACP Muhisoni further appealed to parents and guardians to support these affected girls to prevent any further effects.

Article 28 of the relating to the protection of the child, partly states that a person who harasses a child commits an offence. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than Rwf200, 000 and not more than Rwf300, 000.

In article 32, a parent, a guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child who, without reasonable cause, neglects any of his/her obligations provided by law to the extent that the health, the security and the living conditions of the child are seriously jeopardized or the child indulges in vagrancy commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to community services for a period not more than one (1) month.

In case of recidivism, the penalty is a term of imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) months and not more than six (6) months, with a fine of not less than Rwf500, 000 and not more than frw1 million or one of these penalties only.