Gov’t appoints new Police chief

KIGALI - Cabinet on Wednesday appointed Emmanuel Gasana as the new Commissioner General of Police. Gasana, who held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel prior to his appointment as police boss, was also promoted by the Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Paul Kagame, to the rank of Brigadier General. The post, which has been lying vacant ever since the former occupant, Andrew Rwigamba, was relieved of his duties, was temporarily being filled by Deputy Commissioner General, Mary Gahonzire. Gahonzire has been appointed head the National Prisons Services, which was hitherto headed by Commissioner of Police, Steven Balinda. Before his appointment, Gasana was the acting Chief of Logistics of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). The new police boss is taking with him a vast experience in human resource management and he says his new appointment is a challenge and an opportunity as well. “I have vast experience in human security, particularly management of internal security factors and I am highly experienced in conflict management and international relations. So I think I am taking a big package to the police force,” said Gasana, when contacted by The New Times, yesterday. Another major appointment by Cabinet included that of Brig. Gen. Frank Rusagara who was appointed the Defence Attaché to the Rwandan Embassy in London. Before his appointment, Rusagara was the Director of the RDF Department of Information, Documentation and Military History. The meeting also approved Francis Gatare as the Principal Private Secretary to the President while David Himbara who held the position before, was appointed the President’s Strategy Advisor. Brig Gen Richard Rutatina was also approved as the presidential advisor on Security and Defence, replacing Brig Gen John Bosco Kazura who has long been redeployed back at the RDF headquarters. Other appointments include that of Sharon Haba as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education while Samuel Mulindwa was appointed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, replacing Marcelline Mukakarangwa. The Cabinet also endorsed a Prime Minister’s order dropping 16 judges from the Military Tribunal and appointed four new judges in the same court. Other appointments made by the meeting include Papias Musafiri Malimba as the vice Rector of School of Finance and Banking, Benjamin Sesonga, Director General in the Prime Minister’s office in charge of General Service, Dr. Christine Gasinzirwa, Director of Science, Technology and Research in the Ministry of Education. Erasmus Rwanamiza was appointed the Director General of education in MINEDUC. As a result of the ongoing public service reform, the meeting confirmed Claudette Uwonkunda, Emmanuel Muragijimana and Innocent Nkurunziza as advisors to President of the Senate, the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister respectively. Others appointed include five principle State Attorneys in legislative Translation Coordination, one principle State Attorney in legal advisory services and 10 in civil litigation. Ends