Officials from several public institutions met at Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarter in Kacyiru, yesterday, in a consultative meeting aimed at tightening measures against corruption in public and private entities.

The meeting brought together the Ministries of Justice, and Local Government, RNP, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Office of the Ombudsman, and Transparency International-Rwanda.

Others included National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA), Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), Office of Auditor General, Rwanda Bar Association and district executive secretaries.

While opening the conference, the Minister of State for Constitutional and Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Evode Uwizeyimana, said Rwanda is a "nation whose efforts in fighting corruption keep improving.”

"Corruption affects the entire lifestyle of a nation, that’s why we need to strengthen synergies like these to collectively fight it. Indeed, it has been proven that a corrupt nation cannot develop but is instead always mired in violence,” the minister said.

"As a people determined to develop further and sustain our progress, we have to always stand against corruption.”

The meeting was in line with the Ombudsman’s week-long campaign against corruption.

"What we do today will be the legacy we will leave for the future generation and I believe we all want to leave a good legacy for our children and our country,” Uwizeyimana said.

Jean Nepo Mboyumuvunyi, commissioner for Inspectorate of Police Services and Ethics, whose docket is also charged with fighting corruption, said graft evolves by the day which requires regular review mechanisms against the rising trend.

Statistics from RNP indicate that, since January, about 180 people have been arrested attempting to bribe police officers.

At least 80 police officers have also been implicated in graft-related offences, a 27 per cent decrease compared to last year.

The Head of Decentralisation and Good Governance Promotion at RGB, Justus Kangwagye, said: "We are committing our relentless efforts to fighting corruption using all possible means. This synergy is a sign of enhanced cooperation in ensuring that we achieve our goal of a corrupt-free society.”

While closing the conference, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, Odette Uwamariya, reiterated government commitment to fighting corruption, especially at the local government level where she called for enhanced monitoring of how public tenders are awarded.

"This meeting has proven that we still have a big challenge in the fight against corruption, that’s why we should work even harder because we can’t shy away from the fact that there are still a few corrupt characters,” she said.

During the day-long meeting, panelists discussed the effects of corruption on security and justice, and corruption as a hindrance to good governance and service delivery.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw