Editor,

RE: "RNP hands over South Sudanese recovered vehicle” (The New Times, September 13).

One may probably not realise how reading such stories makes us proud of the Rwanda National Police (RNP). One may think this act is similar to what happens elsewhere in the region, but what is for sure is Rwanda’s security forces have demonstrated a unique sense of duty and high degree of integrity.

This is a second such case in no more than three months; the memory of how Rwanda National Police intercepted stolen cars from London still looms large.

This is what impresses the world and welcomes investors to Rwanda. That point of trust should be cultivated and watered all the time.

Elsewhere on the continent, this car would undoubtedly have been intercepted and in return become the property of someone higher in ranks of a security organ. In some countries, I personally fear Police officers than anything – they search you and steal all your property at gunpoint.

They harass you just because you own a passport of a foreign country; they talk to you like you’re not a human being.

This is different in Rwanda where Police officers are so friendly and welcoming, and, above all, trustworthy.

I remember one day when I forgot my luggage – laptop, tablet, important documents and some gifts that I brought to relatives – at Rusumo border post.

I called a police number – it’s always pinned inside the buses – and the officer on duty assured me to proceed with my journey to Kigali and wait for the next bus from Rusumo of which the driver would deliver my luggage.

Passengers assured me that I shouldn’t be worried as longer as RNP is aware of my luggage, but to tell you the truth, I was uncomfortable. I thought I might recover documents but not the gadgets.

I waited for two hours for the bus to arrive. I was given back my bag and I immediately rummaged into it and, to my relief, I found everything in place – nothing was stolen!

I will live with this memory forever.

Trust me, I travel to many countries and I know very well that I wouldn’t have recovered a thing elsewhere.

Police officers wouldn’t even care to answer my calls and listen to me – they will only oblige you to write a theft report, and then file it under "Investigation Underway”, and that’s all.

Yulian