The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana has said that security officers are required to be equipped with advanced skills so as to counter emerging and dynamism crimes within the region.

Minister Harerimana made the remarks on July 2 as he officiated at the one-day symposium on Crime, Security and Justice held at the Rwanda National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District

The symposium held under the theme, ‘Fighting Crime: A fundamental Constituent of Sustainable Security and Justice’ was organized by the College as part of its academic programme. This year’s symposium was meant for the third intake of the Rwanda National ‘Police Senior Command and Staff Course (PSCSC) to enrich senior police officers’ understanding on issues around crime, security and justice.

"The dynamics in our region have an impact on individual country’s security. Therefore, it is evident that addressing these security challenges in an efficient manner requires that police officers be equipped with necessary tools,” Minister Harerimana said.

He went on to say that the kind of tools that Police officers need are, professional knowledge and a deep understanding of the national, regional as well as global security landscape.

Speaking at the opening of the symposium, the College Commandant, CP Felix Namuhoranye gave an insight in the courses offered to officers and how they impact on their professional life.

"One of the courses offered by the College is the Police Senior Command and Staff Course meant for senior officers at strategic level. Its aim is to impact participants with quality skills in relation to strategic command, professional policing, executive leadership as well as strategic management,” said the Commandant.

The one year course also offers a Masters Degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation.

The ongoing course attracted 30 participants from eight African countries namely; Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia Gambia, Kenya, Namibia, South Sudan and Uganda.

"Different class lectures covered by the course participants, study tours as well as symposium on related themes are organized in order to deepen their understanding and expand their analytical capacity.”

NPC is at the heart of building the academic capacity and capabilities of officers from the African continent. It also conducts career development programmes at different levels of command.

In an interview with one of the participants, Superintendent Barbara Alungat from Uganda Police Force, who has spent a year at NPC undertaking strategic level courses, said that the symposium played a fundamental constituent on how to address security matters on a wider scale.

"We have had the privilege of learning from the ideal structure where by the people of Rwanda feel safe, involved and secure. This shouldn’t only be for Rwanda, every citizen in all corners of the world deserve to feel safe and involved in matters of policing, that’s why we have stretched our arms to reach out to community policing to make our world a better place,” she said.

She hastened to add that during the one-year training, RNP exposed her to range of academic knowledge including strategic leadership and management.

"We are ready to take on the challenges; we have the will, the zeal and the commitment to take our countries’ security to another level where everybody safes and involved. We have also seen how security is interlinked with development and how Rwanda is applying home-grown solutions to counter its challenges,” Alungat said.

Another participant at the event, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Jean Nepo Mbonyumuvunyi described the symposium as a mechanism that enriches police senior officers who are finalizing with their advanced knowledge and understanding more the lectures they acquired during class work.

"As leaders, such a symposium helps us drift from theories to practical approaches as we emphasis law enforcement in our respective countries,” said Mbonyumuvunyi.

The symposium drew high profile panelists who spoke widely on matters of security; among those include the Minister of Defense Gen James Kabarebe, who gave a lecture on enhancing security along the Northern Corridor; the role of defense and security cluster; the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K Gasana, who spoke at length about quality of investigations to enhance justice; and Dr. Ludeki Chweya, a political scientist who lectured senior police officers on national security in the perspective of law enforcement.

Other panelists included the Mayor of City of Kigali, Fidele Ndayisaba, Kenya’s Director of CID, Muhoro Ndegwa and Supreme Court judge Dr. Aime Kalimunda.