These graduates who received certificates on Thursday range from the age brackets of 16 and 24.
31% of them are male while 69% are female.
The program aimed at promoting youth’s talent was initiated to help those who did not get chance to complete secondary school, the youth who dropped out of schools among others with dormant talents.
The Executive Director of Root Foundation, Muragwa Bienvenue has explained that the organization draws emphasis on photography, video production and editing, professional dance and music production.
“We offered courses in four categories, acquainted them with efficient skills to fine tune their works and good morals that should characterize artistes,” he said.
Muragwa revealed that they target to extend the program to 400 beneficiaries in different cohorts for the period of two years.
Kobusingye Pierrine, one of graduates in photography has said that acquired skills will be utilized efficiently.
“Before the training, I had a camera but had no skills to take good photos. I was like someone with shoes that do fit them. The training has significantly improved my skills as I have been capacitated to take good photos, footages and edit them,” revealed Kobusingye.
“I usually play ‘solo’. I have learnt a lot from the training most importantly team work spirit because it makes more sense and appeals to spectaculars when you are part of a particular band,” explained Dushimimana Chris, another graduate.
Elie Mandela, Program Analyst at Mastercard Foundation in charge of Youth has commended Root Foundation for organizing the courses and requested graduates to continue updating their skills and apply them appropriately.
“The skills you have acquired should be the beginning and foundation for new life and take advantage of them to make more practices and train colleagues,” he enthused.
David Musirikare, Gasabo District National Youth Council co-coordinator has urged graduates to be characterized by good conducts and stay focused to use their skills to the maximum for a bright future. The second cohort is expected to start courses in May 2021.
President Paul Kagame has said that Africa needs to fast track the manufacturing of vital products for COVID-19 prevention and management, noting that it requires support across the world to ensure it is done properly.
The President made the emphasis yesterday as he attended the first anniversary of ‘Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator’.
The Access to COVID-19 Tools ACT-Accelerator is the proven, up-and-running global collaboration to accelerate the development, production and ensure equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatment and vaccines.
It was set up in response to a call from G20 leaders in March 2020 and launched by WHO, European Commission, France, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on 24 April 2020.
President Kagame commended the Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for ‘leading this important response to the global pandemic’.
He highlighted that many developing countries received Covid-19 vaccine due to the ACT Accelerator noting that much more is needed to be done to ensure equitable and affordable distribution.
“For many developing countries, the accelerator has been the only way to access life-saving Covid-19 testing kits, vaccines and treatment. As the pandemic continues to evolve often in unpredictable manner, much more needs to be done to remove barriers to affordability and equitable distribution,” he said.
Kagame explained that efforts are underway paving the way for Africa to start manufacturing essential products for COVID-19 prevention.
“In particular, Africa lags behind in the manufacture of vital products for COVID-19 prevention and management. Efforts are on the way to build this capacity but it requires support across the world to ensure that it is done properly and quickly enough to make a difference in the ongoing pandemic and improve preparedness for the next one,” he noted.
Kagame also reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to the goals of the accelerator.
“We will continue to work together with the WHO , and other partners to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic,” he affirmed.
The ACT-Accelerator alliance was launched on 24 April 2020 by WHO, the European Commission, France, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop and deliver tests, treatments and vaccines the world needs to fight COVID-19.
“One year after the launch of the ACT Accelerator, world leaders face a choice: invest in saving lives by treating the cause of the pandemic everywhere, now, or continue to spend trillions on the consequences with no end in sight,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom said.
“With a remaining funding gap of US$ 19 billion for 2021 and limited supply of products, we can only end the pandemic by funding, sharing, and scaling-up access to the tools we need to fight the disease. The time to ACT is now,” he added.
Last week, the African Union (AU) signed agreements with WHO aimed at establishing five research centers on African continent helping it to attain envisaged goal of manufacturing 60% of needed vaccines.
The sensitization campaign, which started on April 20, also seeks to enlighten communities on health and trauma matters.
While addressing representatives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Juba, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jeannette Masozera, the FPU-3 Contingent Commander said that domestic and sexual violences is a serious human rights violation which often leaves permanent scars to victims.
“Domestic and sexual gender based violence is a widespread problem with serious consequences in terms of personal suffering, health complications including trauma, disability, lead to significant costs for healthcare systems which also affect families financially, and sometimes fatal,” SSP Masozera said.
She added that SGBV is any harmful act of sexual, physical, psychological, mental and emotional abuse sometimes caused by cultural practices and power control over others by men or women.
According to SSP Masozera, breaking cultural barriers in communities, early intervention in family violence, breaking silence, supporting victims, counselling and advocacy help in dealing with the vice.
“Fighting domestic violence requires community involvement and breaking silence to share information for immediate response. It requires all men and women to understand each other and valuing each one’s opinion and concerns, and sharing responsibilities in the family,” said SSP Masozera.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Joseph Ndamiye Rugazora, the Chief Medical Officer for FPU-3, enlightened the local population on health and trauma matters including types of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and management of trauma.
He highlighted human disasters such as wars, community violence, family conflicts, sexual violence, threats, refugees and racial as some of the causes of trauma.
CIP Rugazora encouraged them to always seek counseling, psychotherapy, body relation and physical exercises as well as support from family and community members as some of the ways to manage trauma.
The statement released last night shows that majority of new cases (162) were found in districts of Southern Province including Nyamagabe: 41, Huye: 37, Nyaruguru: 32, Muhanga: 24, and Kamonyi: 12.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirsus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 24 459 people have been tested positive of whom 22 696 have recovered, 1435 are active cases, 7 are critically ill while 328 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
Birthday parties are among the prohibited events under the government directives on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic spread.
Police and local leaders found the group congregating in a house located in Kimihurura cell of Kimihurura Sector celebrating the birthday for one Kevin Safari, 21, who is among the arrested violators.
The owner of the house, who lives in USA, had left it under the protection of a local private security company.
The security guard at the house identified as Yves Nzamurambaho and the house-help, Jean Irankunda connived with the birthday party organizers to host it at the house.
The violators were on Friday, April 23, paraded before the media at the Police Metropolitan Headquarters in Remera.
The majority are young people aged between 18 and 28.
RNP Spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said the violators were arrested on April 22, at about 2pm following a tip-off by concerned local residents.
“These inappropriate behaviours, especially by the young people, will not be tolerated. We thank members of the public, who continue to be compliant but also report such violations,” CP Kabera warned.
He added that the partnership between the Police, other security organs, local leaders, community policing groups especially the youth volunteers and the public in general, has been effective in educating and enforcing the directives.
“Complying with the directives and health guidelines in particular is for your own safety. Coronavirus is still in our midst, with new infections every day and related fatalities. These parties can lead to another wave of spread.”
The RNP Spokesperson reminded the public to continue observing all measures meant to contain the spread of Covid-19 and commended citizens for information sharing on violators.
Kevin Safari, who had invited his colleagues for his birthday party, regretted the behaviours and advised other people especially the youth to abide by the directives and safety guidelines.
Yves Nzamurambaho, a security guard at the house where the party was hosted acknowledged his mistakes, begged for pardon and pledged to adhere to all Covid-19 containment guidelines.
The violators were enlightened on directives and health practices to contain Covid-19 and also fined for the violation.
This 10-month programme will offer seed capital, valuable training and mentorship opportunities to eligible young entrepreneurs.
Speaking about this initiative, MTN Rwanda’s Chief Consumer and Digital Officer, Yaw Ankoma Agyapong said: “We set up Yolo as a platform to help the youth of Rwanda unleash their potential and drive them to achieve greatness. We are keen on investing in developing youth and want to make sure they are well-equipped to sustain their businesses, in line with MTN’s drive to contribute to the growth of SMEs thus promoting Rwanda’s growth.”
MTN’s partnership with Inkomoko aims to empower and provide youth-led businesses with the right practical knowledge and skills that will strengthen their innovative capabilities amidst an evolving digital world.
Through a competitive application process, 6 youth-led SMEs/start-ups will be selected to receive:
• A free 5-month accelerator from Inkomoko, including training, assessment, and consulting.
• 3 out of the 6 businesses will compete to be selected to receive monetary funding support from MTN.
• Webinars with industry experts to help boost their businesses
• Communication essentials and advertising platforms from MTN
Only participants whose business plans fulfil the criteria below of viability and sustainability will be selected for the programme.
• The applicant must be Rwandan.
• Must be a business owner aged 18-30.
• Must have digital presence or use e-commerce.
• Must have annual revenue of less than Rwf 200,000,000.
• The company must have proof of registration with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for at least 1 year.
• Priority will be given to youth-led businesses that are making a social/environmental impact.
Commenting on the partnership, Sara Leedom, Inkomoko’s Chief Operating Officer said: “’Levelling up’ means taking on the next challenge. We at Inkomoko see youth entrepreneurs in Rwanda take on the challenge of being more digital, using eCommerce, and embracing innovation. Inkomoko is excited for our partnership with MTN to help young entrepreneurs embrace the challenge and grow even further. Level Up Your Biz is an opportunity for digitally connected entrepreneurs to gain more management skills from Inkomoko and digital tools from MTN.”
Level Up Your Biz is in line with MTN’s digital ambition as it focuses on capacity building for businesses that use digital platforms to innovate and provide local solutions that address a market need in Rwanda.
“Our mission is to lead digital for a brighter Rwanda where everyone is connected to the digital world. By supporting these young entrepreneurs, we see ourselves as partners on their digitization journey as they realise their entrepreneurial dreams,” concluded Agyapong.
Interested applicants can apply through https://www.mtn.co.rw/yolo/sme/.
For any enquiries about the Level Up Your Biz programme, please call/email: 0788358639/info@inkomoko.com.
{{About MTN Rwandacell }}
MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, we have continuously invested in expanding and modernising our network and are now the country’s No 1 internet network. MTN Rwanda offers various services to subscribers, including innovative propositions such as personalised voice and data offers with MTN Irekure. The company is also the front runner in mobile financial services in Rwanda with Mobile Money, MoMoPay and MoKash Loans and Savings.
{{About Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development}}
Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development offers full-service business consulting in Rwanda, with offices in Kigali and Musanze, as well as six refugee camps. Our work focuses specifically on developing the skills, systems, and networks for entrepreneurs in Rwanda to successfully develop, operate, and expand their enterprises for increased profit and job creation. To date, Inkomoko has worked with 14,000 entrepreneurs to help them create more than 5,500 jobs in Rwanda. Our portfolio of clients is diverse — agriculture, food processing, tourism & hospitality, retail, and export businesses, for example.
The training offered through Leaders in Teaching program was extended to all lecturers at UR-CE including 27 female and 115 male staff.
The Acting Principle of UR-CE, Dr. Florien Nsanganwimana has said that the training reinforces existing program whereby students will start conducting internships from first year until graduation unlike the past when only finalist students would carry out internship.
“I am optimistic that acquired skills will streamline supervision of pre-service teachers to ensure they meet expectations, capacitate them to identify challenges facing schools and seek a solution. It will also positively impact interns and give them confidence given that they have acquired all necessary support to enhance quality education,” he said.
One of trainers, Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa has stressed that teaching profession needs special attention as it is considered the foundation for intellectual development.
“Teaching profession should be prepared enough like health workers are trained and acquainted with hands on skills early without necessary conduct internship at the completion of studies. Teaching is a profession that requires one to attend school and enough preparation for candidates to carry out their duties smoothly,” he said.
Pascasie Nyirahabimana, a lecturer of Physics at UR-CE has explained that the training capacitates them to improve teaching methodologies.
“There are gaps in quality education whereby students fail to familiarize with working environment and put into practice what they learnt. So, revising our methodologies will also impact the performance of secondary school teachers leveraging their knowledge to promote quality education and help their students apply what they learnt in daily lives,” she noted.
This year’s Mother Earth Day is celebrated under the theme “Restore Our Earth”.
The event was held in Huye District where the Ambassador of Israel in Rwanda, Dr. Ron Adam, visited the Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management.
The Center is in the National Herbarium of Rwanda in University of Rwanda (UR), and accommodates 17,000 species of plants.
The Ambassador was joined by the Director-General of Rwanda Environment and Management Authority (REMA), Juliet Kabera, officials from Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and University of Rwanda, and graduates from the university.
On the occasion, they launched a workshop to increase the capacity of young Rwandans to collect and identify plants hence contribute to the development of the National Herbarium of Rwanda and the country’s documentation of its rich botanical heritage.
In total, 30 individuals including MSc students, recent BSc graduates were trained.
The workshop was financed by the Israel Embassy in Rwanda.
According to Ambassador Adam, preserving biodiversity should be prioritized.
He said: “One of the key areas of concern is the preservation of biodiversity and of the biological ecosystem on Earth. Humanity needs to preserve biodiversity which became more challenging in the current age of climate change and global warming.”
“The embassy attaches great importance to the preservation of parks and nature in Rwanda,” He added.
Israel has dealt with the conservation of its nature since its inception by declaring more than one-third of its land under preservation. There are more than 150 national parks in Israel.
Meanwhile, Rwanda is also committed to preserving the environment, as explained by Kabera.
“The Green Growth and Climate Resilience strategy of 2011 as well as its updates NDCs of 2020 are examples of strategic documents that highlight priority interventions which Rwanda embarked on to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” she noted.
She added: “These interventions include but not limited to promoting the use of renewable energy, rainwater storage and efficient use, landscape restoration, and promoting e-mobility.”
{{Visiting Nyungwe National Park}}
In a bid to promote research and help graduates to better understand biodiversity, over 20 people composed of UR graduates and their lecturers were facilitated to visit the Nyungwe National Park on Wednesday, April 21.
They collected 30 plant species, which they assert will help them conduct further significant researches.
“I have learned a lot with my students, we discovered a lot of species and collected samples that were not at the National Herbarium of Rwanda. This will help us to monitor the evolution of plant species in relation to climate change,” said Prof. Elias Bizuru, a lecturer of Botany and related courses at UR College of Science and Technology.
Aime Sandrine Uwase, Coordinator of National Herbarium of Rwanda and a graduate in Botany and Conservation at UR, also hailed the visit.
“I enjoyed the trail, I got to learn new things. I was able to see with my eyes plant species we were taught in class. We thank the Israel Embassy in Rwanda for this opportunity given to us.”
One training program – the Mastercard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza initiative – works with several partners in Rwanda, such as the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business to provide professional development opportunities for managers and hospitality educators, through its Certificate in Hospitality Management program and its Professional Development Program (PDP). Cornell delivers this advanced training via its eCornell online courses, virtual events, executive education, and classes in its Kigali Heights facility.
“Our goal under Hanga Ahazaza is simple: to enable 30,000 young people to access dignified and fulfilling work in the tourism sector,” says Rica Rwigamba, Rwanda Country Head at the Mastercard Foundation.
“While the goal remains the same, we’re working with our partners to adapt programs to a pandemic and post-pandemic world by building resilience in the sector and adopting digital technology as an enabler of skills training.”
Since 2018, more than 100 businesses have participated in Cornell’s program and nearly 800 employees have benefited from this training. Participants in the Cornell program say courses like Service Excellence and Building High-Performance Teams provide essential skills and a broader understanding of their industry, which they emulate at work every day.
{{Program benefits: skills and broader understanding}}
Managers are reporting a significant improvement in their employees’ customer service performance. Vincent Nzigira, a Managing Director of Bourbon Coffee – a global chain founded in 2007 to create both a market for Rwandan coffee and jobs for Rwandan workers – was one of the first managers to work directly with the Cornell Hanga Ahazaza program in Kigali. The program provided resources and encouragement for his employees – 17 so far. “Customer service has no specific formula,” he says. “It’s about the details, but it’s also about common sense and accountability.” His staff is bringing more personality, creativity, and positivity to their work, and they require less supervision.
Jeanne Kayitesi, Human Resources Manager at One&Only Resorts, oversees a staff of about 200, and has sent 32 of her employees to the Cornell Hanga Ahazaza training. Kayitesi has also seen the positive effect of the program on her team, one of whom has been promoted to full-time manager. “The course has changed him,” she attested. “I have seen a huge shift in his leadership style from when he started.”
Kayitesi says her employees who have been especially pro-active in the course have improved immensely – “how they respond to their possibilities and leadership has changed…now, they are eager to learn.” As an employer, One&Only sends a clear message of support to its enrolled employees, providing training space and equipment, and offering transportation to and from Cornell’s Kigali Heights classroom.
Kayitesi believes her colleagues are inspired to work harder because they have a clearer understanding of how business works. “I hope that other businesses will understand that if they support their staff in this way, they too can benefit from this opportunity.”
{{Side-by-side training}}
Managers who enrolled along with their employees say they appreciate the perspective gained from the coursework itself and from the shared experience with their team members. This past February, Shehzad Rajani, a financial controller at the Radisson Blu Kigali, completed Cornell’s Certificate in Hospitality Management, with a Specialization in Financial Management.
Rajani has worked in finance for years and was impressed to find the coursework challenging. Currently, he is overseeing general managers from different countries and during the COVID-19 lockdown, he found that participating in the Cornell Hanga Ahazaza certificate program together was “the most positive thing to do” in the middle of the crisis.
The Building High-Performance Teams course reinforced Rajani’s belief in team motivation, and he’s already putting principles from the classroom into practice, including formalizing his weekly catch-up sessions with his employees.
“I’ve become a better listener. I ask them for their goals, action plan, and development plan. They feel like they can approach me.” He also believes that constructive feedback is better received by his staff because he makes a point of encouraging them often. “In finance, we need to be transparent, to notice when people are confused, to help, to educate and inform them, and overall to be more involved with operational managers.”
Rajani has experience in project mentorship and he hopes to do more of it within his department. He wants to complete Cornell’s advanced General Management certification so that he can become a stronger coach and mentor. “You should always continue to grow and learn,” he says.
Eric Semuzima, HR Manager at Radisson Blu and Kigali Convention Center, also took part of the course with his employees. He wanted to be an encouraging role model for his staff. He appreciated “the way the content was communicated and managed, so that it can be easily understood and explained.” He was also impressed by the financial aspect of the program, focusing on statements of organization and revenue interpretation. “Before this, I thought these reports were not important,” he says.
But now, he uses the data to monitor his departmental expenses. Semuzima sees improvements in his employees too – when they refer to their lessons and exercises in resolving conflicts or reaching a shared understanding on how to optimize results. People are speaking up, bringing experience to their supervisors, and are more confident and better understand how the departments function. They’re showing initiative too: “They don’t need direction for every task,” she says. This broadened understanding of the business is now a requirement for employees wishing to advance. “In our future planning, any promotions will be contingent on staff completing this course.”
Semuzima’s own ambitions are fueled by the productivity around him. Combining his HR background and his burgeoning hospitality acumen, his goal is to become the GM of a branded hotel within the next 10 years.
Aline Rwubaka, Operations Manager of Primate Safari, has been in her current position since 2005. As a seasoned professional, she also saw value in enrolling in one of Cornell’s certificate programs. “Our industry has evolved, and this program was an excellent refresher on what’s going on in our industry.” Aline says her leadership skills were particularly tested during the pandemic, when the lockdowns and cancellations were creating additional pressure for everyone. During these times, she found herself relying on tools emphasized in her Building High Performing Teams class. Now, she says, “I listen to my colleagues even when I’m under pressure myself.”
{{Create the Future: Many possibilities}}
“There are two Henrys,” says Henry Hakundwumukiza. “Before and after Cornell’s Professional Development Program.” In 2018, the principal of Henry’s college nominated him to participate in the Cornell School of Hotel Administration’s Professional Development Program (PDP), and he has not looked back. “Henry had and has a vision for where he wanted PDP to take him; this is a big story for him,” says Kim Szpiro, Project Lead for the Cornell Hanga Ahazaza initiative.
After completing the program, Henry continued to work as a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainer and was also a writer of curriculum for one of the Hanga Ahazaza educational partners. He joined the Cornell Kigali staff in 2019 as In-Country Instructor and is part of the Cornell Hanga Ahazaza initiative, where he has been involved in curriculum redesign.
“Henry’s a Renaissance man,” Szpiro adds. Henry is a student, instructor, mentor, and entrepreneur. His passion for teaching and learning about hospitality come through on his YouTube cooking channel (Gourmet School of Culinary Arts) and textbook, both created in English, which he considers a priority for future hospitality professionals. Henry has also completed a training course through one of the other Hanga Ahazaza partners and is pursuing a master’s degree – all while raising a family.
“Henry understands our program and its impact on him, but (he also knows) the other partners and how they fit into the bigger picture,” Kim Szpiro adds. Henry’s commitment to professional education is a testament to what Hanga Ahazaza can bring out in students. Cornell’s Hanga Ahazaza students are working professionals, often shouldering extra duties to keep their under-staffed workplaces running while trying to pursue and enhance their career development at the same time. Henry has taken excellent advantage of this experience and encourages his students to do the same.
{{Next strengths to build for Hospitality & Tourism success in Rwanda}}
Hospitality managers are pleased with their employees’ progress, but they’re still concerned about staffing challenges. Rwanda’s emerging economy will no doubt continue to grow after the pandemic, with prominent conferences like the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and tourism re-emerging soon. Because the hospitality industry is still new in Rwanda, staff need focused training in business writing, English proficiency, interview techniques, service etiquette, and career development.
Rwubaka has a passion for tourism and hospitality and says that Rwanda needs more institutions that offer Bachelor and master’s degrees in this field. “It will support the development of the country because it’s a very good industry in which to work, and if more people know about it, then that would be helpful.”
Hanga Ahazaza works to increase Rwanda’s youth employment opportunities and to nurture its tourism industry. Cornell Hanga Ahazaza continues to support this effort, recently launching a new on-demand program for individuals to improve their customer-service skills in reception, housekeeping, food and beverage service, tour guiding, and more. These education units can be completed in about a month.
Kim Szpiro explains that Cornell Hanga Ahazaza is one part of a wider initiative. “As an organization, we are actively promoting other partners within the initiative to provide comprehensive support for the hospitality and tourism industry.”
Vincent Nizigira is hopeful. “Rwanda is investing in its people,” he says. “High quality education will help us to improve and grow.”
Cornell Hanga Ahazaza is currently accepting applications. To learn more, please [{{click here.}}->https://business.cornell.edu/hanga-ahazaza/]
{{About the Mastercard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza Initiative}}
The Mastercard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza initiative is a $50 million, five-year program focused on increasing employment opportunities for young people while expanding the tourism and hospitality sector in Rwanda. Hanga Ahazaza is a consortium of partners from the education, development, and private sectors, working together to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the tourism and hospitality sector through increased access to financial services and training, and by connecting them to young people with the skills needed to be successful employees.
{{Cornell Hanga Ahazaza}}
•Started in 2018 to increase the numbers of youth in Rwanda’s hospitality and tourism industry.
•310 professional students have completed Cornell’s certificate program.
•What our students are doing now: In our March 2021 post-completion survey, we found that despite the impact of the pandemic 71% had an increase in responsibility, 28% received a promotion, and 14% had started a business. Thirty-nine percent had an increase in salary, 94% agreed or strongly agreed that the program helped them do their job better, and 93% agreed or strongly agreed that it helped them be a better manager or mentor.
{{Managers participating in Cornell Hanga Ahazaza’s certificate program earn three credentials:}}
1.Recognition of Achievement
2.Certificate in Hospitality Management
3. Specialization Certificate (six options)
Gen. Mutasem made the call on April 21, while concluding his two-day visit to the camp of Rwanda Formed Police Unit One (RWAFPU-1) operating in Malakal, Upper Nile State.
Rwanda FPU-1 of 240 officers commanded by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Faustin Kalimba was deployed under the rotation exercise.
Gen. Mutasen was accompanied by UNMISS FPU Coordinator, Andrew Kudoro as well as Field Office Police Coordinator in Malakal, Monique Mosekiemang.
On his first day of the visit, on April 20, the Deputy Police Commissioner and his delegation were given a presentation on RWAFPU-1 operations in line with its mandate.
He also met, separately, with the unit’s commissioned and female officers.
The DPC formerly welcomed the new Rwandan contingent and expressed trust in their professionalism as exhibited by other Rwandan peacekeepers.
“We appreciate the role played by Rwanda FPU-1 here in Malakal especially in providing security for civilians,” Gen. Mutasen said.
He reminded the officers on the UN mandate which is now in transition from Protection of Civilian (PoC) to capacity building.
“Rwanda FPUs are known for their disciplined personnel; maintain that character,” Gen Mutasen observed, urging them to work hand-in-hand with other peacekeepers.
While meeting the female officers, the DPC urged them to feel inspired and motivated for their role as women in restoring peace and security.
