Rwanda, Uganda security officials discuss cross border crime

A technical committee comprising security and immigration officials from Rwanda and Uganda is holding a two-day consultative meeting in Musanze District to draw up a joint security framework to monitor their common border.The committee will analyse the security situation at common border posts which make up the Northern Corridor outlets and devise with resolutions on how best to handle matters that affect security along the border.The meeting is a follow-up to the discussions between the countries’ Police chiefs at Cyanika and Gatuna this year.Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, said information sharing and joint operations would be part of the measures.“This will help us to identify common needs and similar challenges so as to tackle emerging cross border crime,” he said.Gasana, who is the current Chairperson of Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO), underscored the importance of cooperation in securing the region’s borders. Among the major crimes threatening the two countries are terrorism, human and drugs trafficking, illegal crossing and migration road safety and traffic management.CIP Ismael, Head of Interpol Rwanda, said there was imminent need to share ICT so as to combat cyber crimes which are also on the rise.“The meeting will come up with strategies to draw relevant commitment from both countries to reduce or completely get rid of cross-border crime in order to establish sustainable security,” he said.Similarly, Uganda’s Senior Commissioner of Police Elly Womanya observed that because of porous borders, it is very easy to smuggle illegal products such as crude brew commonly referred to as Kanyanga.“Crime has no boundaries and unless we work closely through joint operations, it will be absolutely hard to ensure a safe region,” Womanya said.Though measures have been put in place to help fight the trade and consumption of illicit drugs such as marijuana and Kanyanga, the offences continue to top the crime list in Rwanda, with 2720 cases registered last year.Kanyanga is believed to be smuggled into Rwanda from Uganda while marijuana is comes from Tanzania and the DR Congo, according to officials.

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Rwanda, Uganda security officials discuss cross border crime