The emerging policing challenges require collective understanding, interpretation and response between regional and international police forces to be on a preventive side rather than dealing with the consequences, the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana said.
IGP Gasana was speaking at the official closing of the four-day Command Post Exercise (CPX) code named – SAVE LIFE, at Police Training School (PTS) Gishari in Rwamagana District on May 27.
The exercise conducted under the theme “enhancing police capacities for joint disaster preparedness and management” brought together 30 participants from Rwanda and Uganda police forces, to enrich their capabilities in responding to humanitarian crisis and related disaster management operations.
“The policing landscape is changing; it requires collective understanding and interpretation of threats that could be both internal and external in nature like terrorism, cybercrime,” IGP Gasana said.
“This therefore requires serious leaders with focused mind to come out with better strategies to combat such threats, which is why you are here and what is expected from you,” he told participants.
During the course of the exercise, participants covered areas like how to manage the influx of refugees, terrorism, sexual and gender based violence, responding to major incidents like accidents and fire out break, among others.
“Connect what you have achieved here with what is required on the ground…link it with the main mission of your respective forces. Interact and scan the environment. There are challenges ahead that awaits your skills, so understand what this training means to you, to the people and even beyond the institutions we serve,” IGP Gasana noted.
CPX-SAVE LIFE exercise director, Commissioner of Police (CP), Cyprien Gatete observed that the four days have enabled participants in drawing lines of joint planning, training and exercising to enhance police capabilities for joint disaster preparedness and management, and also provided a framework for building teamwork amongst the officers from the two police forces
The deputy Exercise director, CP James Ocaya from UPF while briefing on the out comes of the exercise recommended that the time allotted for the exercise should be increased, also more scenarios and themes be played.
Inspector of Police, Oliver Nababi from Uganda Police Force, who spoke on behalf of the participants thanked both RNP and UPF for the “action ideas” adding that their understand on disasters and response has improved.
Participants recommended that the exercise, which was agreed upon in last February by the two IGPs; Emmanuel K. Gasana and his Ugandan counterpart Gen. Kale Kayihura, be held at least twice every year, and also bring on board all Northern Corridor member states.
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