The abuse of drugs and the excessive consumption of alcohol have emerged as the major causes of the city’s insecurity, Kigali City Council has disclosed.

This was revealed yesterday during a Kigali City Council security meeting that brought together members of Kigali City Council and Executive Secretaries of all sectors with officials from security organs in the city.

The Mayor of Kigali City, Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, who chaired the meeting, said many of the offences that affect security are a result of the bad habit of drug consumption, especially among the youth.

"People who are beating others, those raping children and women are in most cases drug addicts,” she said, adding that strong measures need to be taken against this bad practice that poses a threat to the City’s security.

Kirabo called upon local authorities to use opinion leaders in the mobilisation against the use of drugs, and called for a strong assessment of the security situation so as to strengthen the measures that can guarantee and sustain security in the city.

One of the best practices that were recommended as a possible way of getting rid of drugs is the creation of Anti-drugs clubs that should be used in the mobilisation of the youth and adults against the vice.

The Executive Secretary of Kimisagara sector in Nyarugenge district, Felix Masengesho, said the experience of such clubs has helped them reduce the number of abuses in their sector.

"We use former drugs addicts to give testimonies to others, and it has had a very positive impact,” Masengesho said in an interview with The New Times.

He added that they started using this club last year, and they now have more than 20 people who meet at Kimisagara Youth Complex to discuss the issue before going out to give testimonies to fellow youths.

This, according to Masengesho, is one of the best practices that can help reducing the number of people who take drugs and thus become security threats.

The meeting also resolved to discourage all forms of sale of unlawful alcoholic drinks, as well as making an evaluation of the existing households in all the villages (Imidugudu), a practice that will allow them to sustain and guarantee security in accordance with the Kigali City Master Plan that is in the pipeline.

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