Six top Police Commissioners retired from the force on Wednesday, September 27.
Apart from collectively playing a pivotal role in shaping Rwanda's security landscape, what distinguishes these officers is their shared history as members of the Rwanda Patriotic Army, where they played vital roles in the nation's liberation struggle.
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The New Times takes a closer look at their careers:
Commissioner General Emmanuel Gasana
Gasana, the current Governor of Eastern Province since 2021, previously held the position of Governor of Southern Province from 2018 to 2020. Before transitioning to the Police, Gasana was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). He was promoted to Brigadier General in the RDF and went on to serve as the Commissioner General of Police and subsequently as the Inspector General of RNP, a post he held from 2009 to 2018. Earlier, he served as acting Chief of Logistics for the RDF before transitioning to the police.
Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Butera
Prior to his retirement, Butera served as the Commandant of the Counterterrorism Training Centre Mayange. His distinguished career also included roles such as Commissioner for Operations and Public Order, Director of Community Policing, Chief of Operations for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and Regional Police Commandant of the Central Region.
Butera completed his Senior Command and Staff Course at the National Police College Musanze.
Commissioner of Police Bruce Munyambo
Munyambo, who retired as the Commissioner Of Community Policing, held various positions throughout his career, including Commissioner for Operations and Public Order, Commandant of Police Training School (PTS Gishari), Head of Police Component for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and contingent commander of Rwanda Formed Police Unit (RWFPU) under MINUSTAH (Haiti).
Munyambo is a holder of a Master's degree in International Strategic Leadership and Management. His academic credentials also include graduation from Leicester University in the United Kingdom (UK) with a degree in Criminal Justice and Police Management. Additionally, he completed the International Commanders and Strategic Command courses at Bramshill Police Staff College in the UK.
Commissioner of Police Vianney Nshimiyimana
Nshimiyimana currently serves as the Head of the Small Arms and International Cooperation Department in the Ministry of Interior, a role he assumed on January 30, 2023. His extensive career spans positions such as the legal officer of RNP, Commissioner for Cooperation and Protocol, Commissioner for General Services, Deputy Commandant NPA (now NPC), Director of the Financial Investigation Unit, Commanding Officer of traffic, Commandant of Police Training School Gishari, and Head of Police Component in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).
He also led a Rwandan Contingent comprising Correctional, Individual, and FPU officers as part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Furthermore, he assumed the role of Contingent Commander for Rwandan Police Peacekeepers during the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2008.
Nshimiyimana is an accomplished scholar with a Master's Degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation, along with a Bachelor's degree in Law all from the former National University of Rwanda.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare
Currently, Gatare holds the position of Director of Operations and Programs at the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, Horn of Africa, and neighbouring States (RECSA) in Nairobi, Kenya.
His career has seen him in several critical roles, including Commissioner of Community Policing, Commissioner of Public Relations, Media, and Spokesperson, Commandant at General Headquarters, and Contingent Commander of Rwanda Formed Police Unit (FPU1) Rotation 5 under MINUSCA (Central Africa Republic).
Gatare holds a Master’s Degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation from the University of Rwanda.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Privat Gakwaya
Gakwaya, before retiring, served as the Deputy Commandant in charge of academic studies at the National Police College Musanze. His career also featured positions such as heading the ICT Department in the Police, holding civil positions in Gendarmerie, and heading various stations and brigades.
Gakwaya brings an engineering background to his expertise and is a graduate of the Senior Command and Staff Course at National Police College Musanze.