Police in Kigali on Saturday night in partnership with local authorities in the City arrested nine people over alleged noise pollution. Those arrested include seven church leaders and two bar owners. The churches in question are; ADEPR of Gikondo, Eglise Methodiste of Kicukiro, CERPAR of Kimihurura and CLA of Nyabisindu in Gasabo District. They are currently detained at Kicukiro Police Station as investigations continue. In a statement, Police explained that the suspects were arrested under article 600 of the penal code and articles 37 and 108 of the organic law determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda. Assistant Commissioner of Police Theos Badege, the Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said peoples activities and beliefs shouldnt infringe on other peoples rights. This operation is a continuous effort to enforce the law against night disturbance and noise pollution which came after previous meetings including the one held on September 17 in Nyandungu and chaired by the Minister for Internal Security where church owners and leaders were urged to take ownership instead of being punished,” ACP Badege said. The statement added that it is unfortunate that some people have continued to defy the law despite all the meetings and warnings. Our intent is not to stop bars and church businesses but to ensure that it is done in an orderly manner and in accordance with the law. They must ensure that rights of communities in their neighbourhood are respected; operate in designated places, lower the volume of their sound systems and install sound proofs to contain sound, ACP Badege noted. Article 600 of the Penal code states that, any person found guilty of making noise and night disturbance in a way that causes trouble among people, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of eight days to two months and a fine of Rwf 50,000 to Rwf 1 million or one of the penalties. According to Rwanda Environment Management Authority, noise pollution in Rwanda is determined when sound goes beyond 80 bel (db). Bell is the unit through which noise is measured. Eighty db is the level at which sound is physically painful-and can be termed as noise, according to the regulations.
