President Kagame Commissions 436 New Officers into Rwanda National Police as Force Marks Silver Jubilee
Gishari, Rwamagana District – May 27, 2026: President Paul Kagame, Commander-in-Chief of Rwanda’s security forces, on Wednesday presided over a vibrant commissioning ceremony for 436 officer cadets at the Police Training School (PTS) in Gishari, Rwamagana District.
The event doubled as a celebration of the Rwanda National Police (RNP)’s 25th anniversary, highlighting a quarter-century of transformation, professionalism, and service to the nation.
The new graduates, promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), form the 14th intake. Training began on July 15, 2025. The cohort includes 327 men and 109 women, demonstrating the RNP’s commitment to gender inclusivity and diversity.
A Diverse and Skilled CohortThe graduating class reflects Rwanda’s integrated approach to security capacity-building:
- 124 recent graduates from the National Police College in Musanze.
- 172 serving lower-ranking officers.
- 86 civilian recruits.
- 50 officers from specialized agencies — 30 from the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and 20 from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
- 9 officers from Seychelles, under a bilateral cooperation agreement.
Several cadets also completed specialized training abroad in Egypt and Singapore.
During the ceremony, President Kagame personally congratulated top performers, including Seychellois officer Nicolette Marie, who ranked fourth overall for discipline and professionalism.
A crisp military parade, featuring 10 formations and flag bearers, showcased the cadets’ discipline and precision.
The event attracted senior government officials, family members, and high-level delegations from across Africa and beyond, including police chiefs from Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda, Seychelles, and other nations.
25 Years of Excellence
Formed in 2000 through the unification of earlier security entities, the RNP has grown from roughly 3,000 personnel to more than 18,000 today.
It is widely praised for community-oriented policing, zero-tolerance anti-corruption policies, and the adoption of modern technologies such as drones, smart traffic systems, and robotic security tools.
Rwanda’s police have also earned international respect through substantial contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, including deployments of all-female units to conflict zones.
Commandant of PTS Gishari, CP Rafiki Mujiji, noted that the training emphasized tactical skills, ethical leadership, and professionalism to prepare officers for contemporary security challenges.
The new AIPs will deploy across various units, including traffic safety, cyber operations, marine policing, canine units, and more.
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