Regional security experts have chosen Rwanda to host a centre of excellence for police training and coordination of initiatives against gender-based violence in the East African region. The move aimed at joint capacity building, saw Uganda designated as a centre of excellence for community policing. This was announced at the end of regional police chief’s meeting in Kampala yesterday. Uganda’s Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura said that the selection criteria was based on the available national capacity that can be shared with member-countries to ensure effective policing. The coordinator of forensics at the Rwanda National Police (RNP), Assistant Commissioner of Police Wilson Rubanzana, said that one of the regional centres will be based at the Isange One Stop Centre at the RNP headquarters. The others will at the National Police College in Musanze in Northern Province and at the Police Training School in Gishari in Eastern Province. The meeting also chose Kenya to be in charge of police aviation and criminal investigations while Tanzania will be in charge of marine and public order management. The experts observed that due to Burundi’s past experience in handling a post-conflict situation, the country will be in charge of disaster management and disarmament. In addition to community policing, Uganda also hosts the East Africa Community Regional Forensic Referral Centre, whose main goal is to transform the fight against crime in the region by providing scientific information to investigators and courts. Charles Njoroge, the EAC Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation) said that operationalisation of the regional forensic referral centre is a big test on how committed the national police forces are setting up regional centers of excellence in various police disciplines.
