Rwamagana- Rwanda National Police (RNP) yesterday launched a program to provide 150 houses, to non-commissioned officers at Gishari Police Training School.

The Minister of Internal Security Musa Fazil Harerimana presided over the ceremony.

The event was also attended by the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, TIG and CSS Zigama officials.

Harerimana revealed that President Paul Kagame initiated the multimillion housing program in 2010.

He added that each beneficiaries of the program would be expected to pay back Rwf 3.5 million.

"This is a well thought out program...and developing it at this level is a big step. Rwanda is developing very fast despite limited resources, due to good leadership,” he remarked.

"Providing houses is more viable than increasing salaries. Increasing a police
constable’s salary by 3 percent or so, wouldn’t enable him or her to build a house worth Rwf 3.5 million,” he added, causing laughter.

Harerimana noted that the salaries of the armed forces personnel are indirectly subsidised through the provision of cheap services and commodities.

"We shall soon have an ‘Armed Forces shop’, which will be cheap and user-friendly.”.

Lt. Colonel Richard Muhirwa of CSS Zigama, said that RNP personnel would continue receiving housing loans from the bank.

"Construction of houses is very expensive and junior officers would find it tough, both in terms of finance and time.

I like the collective approach, where the bank deals with an institution and not individuals,” he said.

Superintendent Oswald Nyakana, the site supervisor, said that the 150 three bed-roomed housing units should be complete by September this year.

He noted that the neighbouring community would benefit from the building technology, employed by the site engineers.

"The project will be mutually beneficial to both the Police and the (local) community...Police can join rice cooperatives in the area, while the adjoining community will emulate the quick system of building,” he said.

RNP plans to construct about 5,000 such houses countrywide in the next five  years.

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