Regional Police officers led by IGP Emmanuel Gasana meeting over the establishment a Traffic Management Center
A new East African Community (EAC) regional traffic excellence center is due to be established in Rwanda as a way of enhancing regional integration and using Rwanda as an example in managing the center.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has been put in charge of the new centre of excellence which will be responsible for innovation, research and capacity building of Police officers in EAC in road traffic-related initiatives.
A team of experts from the EAC member states visited Rwanda National Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru on January 20, to assess the process in the establishment of the Traffic Management (TM) Regional Centre of Excellence.
According to Rwanda’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana Rwanda is prepared and ready to host the centre to support each other in building a regional force, that is well equipped and properly managed and productive.
The head of the delegation, Burundi Assistant Commissioner of Police Kaguta Bazirakye, also head of Peace and Security at the EAC secretariat said the EAC is impressed with the Rwanda National Police’s implementation progress and what has been achieved.
“Rwanda National Police is special; they are doing a wonderful job. Rwanda has all it takes to host the centre and Police will help move it to the highest horizon,” said Bazirakye.
Though police forces in the EAC region are listed among the most corrupt public institutions, according to a transparence International report in 2013, the Rwanda national police is believed to be at the lead of cleaning up its records.
IGP Gasana says that Rwanda has dealt with the issue of corruption with zero tolerance in its force, adding that putting in place service facilities, capacity building and training of officers has been vital in strengthening the force.
Today, Rwanda has established a motor vehicle inspection center and Gishari Integrated Polytechnic as some of the strategies in place to check on the mechanical faults of cars and give skills to officers.
The Rwanda police force also owns a mobile test lane and is in the process to open other five centers in different parts of the country- and soon one will be able to get a driving permit within 48 hours and Gasana says that these initiatives will make the Traffic Management Centre a vibrant one.