On Friday, October 23, 2026, 12 Rwandan police officers completed a training program on using dogs for security purposes at the Canine Brigade headquarters in Ndera, Gasabo District. The training was provided by Rwandan police instructors in collaboration with experts from The Police Dog Center Holland (PDCH). The program aimed to equip the officers with the necessary skills to handle and work with new dogs in a professional manner for various security operations.
The training covered various topics, including searching for vehicles and cargo, searching buildings, and detecting narcotics and explosives in different locations, including non-building areas. The graduation ceremony was attended by Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, who emphasized that having the necessary knowledge and skills is not enough; police officers must also have good behavior and take care of the dogs to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
CP George Rumanzi stressed that police officers must have good behavior and pay attention to the dogs' welfare to ensure they can carry out their security tasks. He added that the Rwanda Police will continue to enhance its capacity to use dogs through training and partnerships with various stakeholders. Rumanzi also announced plans to provide training for trainers to increase the country's capacity to provide canine unit training for police officers.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Faustin Kalimba, head of the Rwanda Police Canine Unit, stated that the training aimed to provide police officers with practical knowledge and skills to work with dogs professionally. He thanked the Rwanda Police leadership for their support and the PDCH experts for sharing their knowledge and experience with the trainees.
The training was funded by the Rwanda Airports Company (RAC) in partnership with the PDCH. The program aimed to enhance the Rwanda Police's capacity to use dogs in security operations by increasing the knowledge and skills of dog handlers and improving the interaction between them and the dogs.
ACP Faustin Kalimba urged the graduates to continue updating their knowledge, conducting research, and monitoring emerging threats to prevent and combat crimes effectively. The trained officers will be deployed to various security operations, including searching for narcotics and explosives and securing public areas.
The Rwanda Police plans to continue collaborating with stakeholders to provide training for trainers and enhance the country's capacity to provide canine unit training for police officers. The use of dogs in security operations is expected to increase, with the Rwanda Police aiming to strengthen its security capabilities.
Key points
- The training program was conducted in collaboration with The Police Dog Center Holland (PDCH) and funded by the Rwanda Airports Company (RAC).
