MUHANGA- The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, has called on residents to use community policing initiatives as a means of restoring security in their communities.

Musoni, made the remarks Wednesday while launching the Community Policing week in Muhanga district.

 "Everyone should be involved in community policing activities by providing necessary information needed to prevent crimes,” Musoni said.

He encouraged residents to participate and promote peace and security during in forthcoming elections as a way of promoting democracy and the rule of law.

The function was attended by Police Chief, Emmanuel Gasana, the Governor of the Southern Province, Fidel Ndayisaba, senior police and army officers as well as local leaders.

The launch was marked by a multitude of residents joining the leaders to parade through the city center to Gitarama stadium.

The Minister, accompanied by the Police Chief, also gave phones to police officers in charge of community policing, mosquito nets to mothers, anniversary t-shirts to residents and placed stickers on selected vehicles.

Gasana lauded residents for their collaboration in implementing Community Policing programs since 2007. He said that "the success of community policing has been attributed to good collaboration of residents and good leadership, and this should be continued so as to attain the country development goals.”

The representative of Community Policing Committees (CPC) in Muhanga, Venuste Semigabo, commended the police initiative for involving residents in crime prevention, which has resulted to dispute resolution, family and community counselling, gathering information and crime reduction.

Semigabo said that CPC’s face problems of lack of skills, communication, facilitation and need training in order to disseminate information, make crime reports and reach out to a large number of residents.

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