Senior police officers from the wider East Africa region started a commanders’ training course, facilitated by a prominent institution – UK’s Bramshill College – at police headquarters yesterday.

The course, the second of its kind to be held in Kigali, brings senior officers from some of the East Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) countries for strategic command training.

"We are very thankful because Bramshill College offers quality training. It is known world-wide and I think this is a very useful time to share and learn from different experiences,” Mary Gahonzire, the Acting Commissioner General of Police told British Ambassador, Nicholas Cannon, at the launch of the course yesterday.

"This course is very important in as far as our needs are concerned. I believe each one of us will benefit, while further appreciating the UK government’s support for Rwanda’s development plans,” she added.

It has been reported that 1,200 students from 88 developing countries have benefited from Bramshill training.

The Police Staff College, Bramshill, England, is considered the principal police staff training establishment in the United Kingdom.

Ambassador Cannon stressed that the course was a good programme because those who attended the first one had confirmed it was useful and worthwhile.

The British envoy pointed out that in a wider context, the UK has been working with the government of Rwanda in various other projects and remains very supportive.

He reiterated his government’s willingness to contribute to Rwanda’s development process through supporting the police force.

By the end July this year, 12 senior police officers had completed a month’s management course also conducted by police officers from Bramshill College.

Apart from Rwanda, EAPCCO trainees from Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti and Tanzania are expected to participate.

The Regional Police Organisation known as the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation – EAPCCO – was founded in Kampala, Uganda during the first regional police chiefs’ meeting in February 1998.

The meeting resolved to set up an institutionalised body after emphasizing the need for a collective effort to curb cross-border crime within the region.

The body’s constitution recognises Interpol Sub Regional Bureau in Nairobi as its secretariat. Other member states are Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Uganda, and the Seychelles.

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