RWAMAGANA - 1,520 Police constables yesterday graduated at Gishari Police Training School after 16 months of training.
Thousands of parents and relatives turned up to witness the graduation of their loved ones at the colourful event presided over by internal security minister, Musa Fazil Harerimana.

According to officials, this was the 5th pass-out, in the less than ten years the force has existed.

Harerimana, advised the new entrants to take the responsibilities that accompany their new status seriously.

He said that the Police, together with other institutions, is charged with security which is a fundamental necessity for any development.

The Minister told them that they have joined a national institution that requires individual and collective discipline.

"Civilians can sleep but the police must work 24 hours. You must work hard to protect the citizens of this country,” he said.

"Offer good service to the population without any form of corruption. Security doesn’t come on a silver platter.”

Emmanuel Gasana, the Commissioner General of Police (CGP), said that training in the police force is a continuous process.

"We want a professional force, which is why we are training and equipping the police. our police serves not only Rwanda, but other international missions. We are currently in six countries maintaining security in troubled states,” he said.

Chief Superintendent, Alexander Muhirwa, the Commandant of the Training School, said that of the 1700 trainees that had enrolled, only 1520 graduated.
"One candidate died suddenly. The other 179 failed to cope with the required discipline within our force,” Muhirwa said.

Other high profile delegates who attended the event included Defence Minister, Gen Marcel Gatsinzi and Mary Gahonzire, the Commissioner General of Prisons.

Ends