KIGALI - Police has launched investigations into circumstances under which a police trainee at Gishari Police Training School died, shortly before pass-out.

A trainee whose identity was not readily available by press time suddenly died before a pass-out ceremony held last week.

Information from Gishari Police Training School indicates that 1,520 Police constables on Decemeber 17 graduated after 16 months of training.

But one of the recruits died under what colleagues said could be related to a ‘heavy disciplinary’ action taken by his superiors.

Internal Security Minister, Musa Fazil Harerimana who also presided over the pass-out confirmed to this newspaper last evening that the force has already launched investigations into the matter.

"We hear that he had been disciplined two days before the pass-out. We are investigating to establish whether his death is related to this,” Harerimana said by phone yesterday.

He revealed that a post-mortem examination to determine cause of death was being carried out by medical personnel.
"You know we want to clear the air because we don’t want any Rwandan to die innocently,” Harerimana added.

The minister said sometimes, trainees are subjected to tough exercise but caning, kicking or torture students are highly prohibited.

"Sometimes, instructors can tell the trainee to this and that. But the institution’s message is that everything must be done fairly,” the minister explained.

But he was quick to say that it was very early to apportion blame. "It’s only the doctor who can tell us the cause of death.”

Last Friday’s event was the 5th pass-out, in less than ten years the force has existed.

During the pass-out, Chief Superintendent, Alexander Muhirwa, the Commandant of the Training School said that of the 1700 trainees that had enrolled, only 1520 graduated.

He said that 179 failed to cope with the required discipline within the force.

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