The Rwanda National Police yesterday welcomed Tuesday’s arrest of the one of the most wanted Genocide fugitives Ildephonse Nizeyimana in Kampala by the Ugandan Police and Interpol.

Responding to the arrest, in a Kampala suburb Hotel, of one of the most sought after masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the acting Commissioner General of Police, Mary Gahonzire, said the arrest is a sign of improved cooperation between regional police forces.

"On behalf of the Rwanda National Police, I commend and sincerely appreciate the work that has been done by the Ugandan Police and Interpol. This shows the commitment by the countries in the region to arrest and apprehend Genocide fugitives who are in the region.”

"I applaud the efforts and we encourage them to continue because these people are still very many. The list is still long, but with such developments we are hopeful.” Gahonzire said in an interview with The New Times.

Nizeyimana a.k.a the Queen Killer for his infamous execution of the much-revered Queen Rosalie Gicanda, the widow of King Mutara Rudahigwa III, was arrested on Monday by a team of Interpol and Ugandan Police operatives who had been tracking him.

The notorious former intelligence officer responsible for orchestrating the killing of thousands of people in Butare, Southern Province especially intellectual Tutsis, was apprehended after entering Uganda via the Bunagana border post from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He had been hiding in the DRC for the last 15 years. Upon his arrest he was quickly transferred to the Arusha-based International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR) where he will face charges related to Genocide and crimes against humanity.

According to Gahonzire, 11 countries from within the region grouped under the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO) have agreed to step up the hunt for genocide fugitives still on the run.

This was agreed upon during the recently concluded 11th EAPCCO Annual General Assembly held in Djibouti last week.

The police chief added that the recent developments are a positive signal in implementing this resolution.

Nizeyimana is the second genocide suspect to be arrested in Uganda, following the arrest of Juvenal Rugambarara, another wanted fugitive, in August 2003.

The arrest of Nizeyimana follows the arrest of Gregoire Ndahimana 2 months ago in the DRC as well as the arrest of the former Minister of Youth in the Genocidal government, Callixte Nzabonimana in Tanzania.

Gahonzire added that Rwanda and Uganda police forces maintain a very active relationship especially in regard to dealing with cross-border crimes including human and drug trafficking, counter-terrorism, counterfeiting and small arms proliferation among others.

The Police chiefs under EAPCCO also vowed to tackle these crimes on the regional level.

A major crackdown on cross-border crimes which include counterfeiting, cyber crimes, intellectual property crimes, environmental crimes and maritime piracy, will be carried out by regional member states.

During the Djibouti meeting, Sudan agreed to lend its forensic laboratory to EAPCCO member states to fight crime. Sudan is said to possess a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory.

Ends