Rwanda Forensic Laboratory (RFL) replaced Kigali Forensic Lab (KFL), created in 2005, which was since 2015 run by the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Prosecution providing three services- forensic toxicology, drug and chemistry, and documents examination and fingerprint analysis.
From the end of March this year, Rwanda Forensic Laboratory which was launched on 7th June by the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, started providing other additional services such as DNA forensics, ballistics, forensic pathology, and digital forensics.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Director General of Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, ACP François Sinayobye said the Laboratory can now offer ballistic tests and results when applied for by individuals.
“Since we started operations as RFL, we have done 172 DNA tests of which 110 are paternal. The other tests carried out are related to murder and sexual abuse,” said ACP Sinamenye.
The increase in the number of paternal tests applications is among other reasons due to Rwandan Government’s drive to pursue suspected criminals who defile children and deny them and the drastic reduction in the cost of DNA paternal tests compared to when DNA samples were sent to Germany.
While it cost about more than one thousand US dollars abroad mostly in Germany, it now costs only Rwf267,035.
“People have started understanding the importance of services we deliver. It is a laboratory that came at the right time as it came with solutions to problems that were raised due to lack of evidence after crimes. This will boost the good justice delivery which is necessary for good governance,” ACP Sinamenye added.
Since March this year, RFL has carried out 61 documents tests, 37 fingerprint tests, 25 forensic toxicology tests, 1028 autopsies, two ICT and cyber-related tests and 3030 tests related to violence.
ACP Sinayobye further revealed plans by Rwanda Forensic Laboratory to introduce the Biometric Data Bank which will serve to get DNA samples of suspected criminals without having to first test them.
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