Thirty SeniorPolice officers from eight African countries have completed a one-year Police Senior Command and Staff course at Rwanda National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District.

The graduates of the third intake of NPC’s highest academic course came from Burundi, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Namibia, South Sudan,  Uganda and hosts Rwanda.

The one-year course offers strategic command and leadership as well master’s programme in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation offered in partnership with the Centre for Conflict Management of the University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Science.

It combines police components, which include command, and operational staff work offered by Rwanda National Police, a level seven certificate in strategic management and leadership offered in partnership with Bramshill College of policing in the UK.

The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, who officiated at the ceremony yesterday, conferred upon the 30 granduands with certificates and decorated them with the Passed-Staff-College symbol.

"This is yet another indication of the great extent to which Rwanda National Police has moved toward its vision to see people in Rwanda safe, involved and reassured, by increasingly building the capacity of its personnel at all levels,” Harerimana told the graduands.

Just like the previous two intakes, Harerimana said, the sharing of experiences and learning together constitutes a milestone in consolidating the regional cooperation and integration especially in the domain of law enforcement.

"The inseparable link between human resource development and better service delivery to the people is the key to professionalism and a culture of efficiency which contributes to a nation’s progress. I am confident that the knowledge acquired will not only benefit the granduands but also their nations and the continent,” he said.

The course acquired by the officers is the highest conducted by NPC. It was designed to impart selected senior police officers with strategic management, leadership command and policing skills as it opens them to the global understanding of the contemporary peace and conflict management.

The graduation was attended by dignitaries from different countries and Rwandan senior government, Police, and military officers.

Contemporary policing in context

Foreign dignitaries who graced the occasion include Uganda’s Minister of State for Teso Affairs Christine Amongin Aporu, Gambian Inspector General of Police Ben Wilson, among others.

"We strongly believe that contemporary policing environment compels us to share these skills with other African countries because in policing no countries can go alone. It is in this spirit that the course attracted 30 participants from eight African countries,” Commissioner of Police Felix Namuhoranye said.

During their study, the student officers were taken through a combined programme addressing both professional and academic needs at the strategic police command level.

"I know that the training has been demanding but I hope it was also educative and rewarding. I am confident that, for many of you, this was a critical opportunity to build on your field of exposure. In order to maintain the college standards we will continue to review the existing programmes to meet the needs of the changing policing environment,” Namuhoranye said.

Rwanda National Police, he said, has embarked on procedures to apply for a stand-alone college status.

"This status will enable the college to independently design and keep adapting professional and academic programmes addressing the real needs of  the rapid changing environment of  policing without having to go through long processes.”

During the ceremony, Minister Harerimana also awarded the three best performing students.

Superintendent Barbara Alungat from Uganda Police Force received  the best commander’s paper for presenting the best academic paper, while The Gambia’s Chief Superintendent of Police Mustafa Ndong scooped the best allied student’s award for his exceptional academic command and leadership qualities exhibited in different capacities.

The overall best student’s award went to Chief Superintendent of Police Robert Niyonshuti (RNP) for demonstrating outstanding leadership, management and command coupled with advanced academic abilities and teamwork.