President Paul Kagame on Wednesday commissioned 436 officer cadets into the Rwanda National Police (RNP) at the Police Training School (PTS) Gishari in Rwamagana District, in a ceremony that marked the force's 25th anniversary. The new officers received the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP). The cohort, 436 in total, including 124 graduates from various departments of the National Police College in Musanze, began their training on 15 July 2025. President Kagame opened his address by congratulating the graduates and commending their instructors, the RNP leadership, and the families

President Paul Kagame on Wednesday commissioned 436 officer cadets into the Rwanda National Police (RNP) at the Police Training School (PTS) Gishari in Rwamagana District, in a ceremony that marked the force's 25th anniversary. The new officers received the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP). The cohort, 436 in total, including 124 graduates from various departments of the National Police College in Musanze, began their training on 15 July 2025. President Kagame opened his address by congratulating the graduates and commending their instructors, the RNP leadership, and the families who supported the officers through their preparation, underscoring that joining the police is a choice that demands sacrifice and discipline. He told the newly commissioned officers that their ranks were not a privilege but a binding contract with the public, obligating them to protect the population, enforce the law impartially, and maintain integrity in all duties. On the relationship between police and citizens, the President said a professional force could not succeed through authority alone, and that public trust was the true measure of policing excellence. He instructed the new officers to work alongside communities and treat every citizen with respect. "I thank all police officers, those of today and those of the past, for the dedication and sacrifice that has enabled Rwandans to live and work in peace, with the dignity and respect they deserve," Kagame said. Reflecting on the force's 25-year journey, he acknowledged the transformation of the RNP from its founding in 2000 into a disciplined and professional institution, while cautioning against complacency. He called on officers to continuously adapt to modern security threats, including cybercrime and cross-border criminal activity, treating their Gishari training as a foundation rather than a ceiling. He closed by tying the role of the police directly to Rwanda's development agenda, arguing that without security, sustainable economic growth and social transformation were impossible. The Commandant of PTS Gishari, CP Rafiki Mujiji, formally presented the cadets for commissioning, citing their performance across the training period. "Having assessed the knowledge, effort and dedication they demonstrated throughout their studies, we are confident they will perform well in the duties ahead," he said. The RNP was established on 16 June 2000, merging the Gendarmerie Nationale, the Communal Police, and the Judicial Police into a single national service. Over 25 years, it has grown from a single training school into a professional organisation equipped with modern facilities, specialised programmes, and international partnerships.  

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