Rwanda National Police (RNP) yesterday handed over Rwf500,000 to Ugandan authorities, after it was recovered from a suspected thief who had crossed into Rwanda.

The money was handed over by Commissioner for Interpol ACP Tony Kuramba to Ugandan Police Assistant Commissioner of Police Patrick Lawot at the RNP Headquarters in Kacyiru, Kigali.

The suspect, Shadrack Mugwaneza,26, a Burundian national was arrested in a lodge in Nyabugogo on January 20, shortly after arriving in Kigali from Kampala.

Upon arrest, he was searched and found in possession of Rwf509,000 which was confiscated, pending further investigations, according to the Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Celestin Twahirwa.

"We received information from our Ugandan counterparts that the suspect had stolen sh5.3 million from a colleague with whom they worked at a petrol station in Kampala. They alerted us that he might be trying to cross over to Burundi through Rwanda,” CSP Twahirwa said.

"We beefed up intelligence and when he arrived, we tracked his movement until he was apprehended in Nyabugogo. Through Interpol, we share critical information on criminals. This culture of sharing information has reduced cross-border crimes,” he added.

Lawot commended RNP for its professionalism demonstrated in handing over the money.

"Rwanda Police has once again proved to us that we can always rely on them for high level investigations and professionalism. We appreciate the professional gesture and we will endeavour to cooperate in order to enforce law and order in our countries,” he said.

"We are certain that businesses back home appreciate RNP’s professionalism and honesty.”

Both law enforcers are finalising the transfer of the Burundian suspect to Uganda where he will be prosecuted for the alleged crime.

Lawot said two other suspects in connection with the crime are still at large and investigations are ongoing to have them apprehended.

This is the second time in less than a month that RNP is handing over stolen money to Uganda.On December 31, last year, RNP handed over Rwf8 million to a Ugandan businessman which had been stolen from him in Kabale, southwestern Uganda.

RNP intervened after Police in Kabale arrested one of the suspects who said he had sent some of the money to a relative in Rwanda.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw