Officers of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) who man armories on daily basis on Monday begun a weeklong training aimed at developing their capacity in assessing national stockpiles and infrastructure so as to enhance security and safety.

The course intends to enhance the national capacity of security agencies on arms and ammunition management for the promotion of peace and stability.

The training facilitated by the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RESCA) was opened by the Centre’s Executive Secretary Théoneste Mutsindasyaka, among other officials.

Mutsindashyaka said the training seeks to teach participants how to assess national stockpiles and especially provide ways for potential improvements to security and safety management; in accordance with international best practices.

There are two RDF instructors and one from Kenya Defence Force.

Mutsindashyaka said: "The EAC partner states have all benefited from this kind of national training. I want to extend RESCA’s gratitude to the US government for being a consistent partner in the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol over the last 10 years.”

Rwanda has been benefiting from similar arrangements and, end last year, the country received US government support, through RESCA, in arms marking exercises and destruction of un-exploded ordinance and waste ammunition.

More than 130 tonnes of unexploded ordinance and waste ammunition were destroyed, as part of Rwanda’s continued efforts to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Meanwhile, RESCA is today expected to hand over 150 steel arms boxes to the Rwanda National Police.

These boxes will be deployed at police posts and bases in hard-to-reach areas; to provide safe storage of their weapons and ammunition, according to Mutsindashyaka.

They will also donate 48 gun racks to provide safe and proper storage of arms to the RDF.

Addressing the trainees, Assistant Commissioner of Police Costa Habyara, the Director   General for law enforcement in the Ministry of Justice, urged the trainees to fully embrace the course so as to benefit their units.

"The objective of this course is not to get a certificate, but to get knowledge and expertise that allows you to practice what you have learnt,” Habyara said.

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