Rwanda won nine out of 13 sports disciplines to emerge the overall winner of the 4th edition of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Games, which concluded on Monday, March 27, in Kigali.
The competition held under the theme “Fostering Police cooperation to fight transnational organized crimes through sports” brought together eight out of 14 EAPCCO member countries.
During the week-long interforce competitions, Rwanda won gold in football, volleyball, handball and basketball.
Other categories won by Rwanda include, beach volleyball, taekwondo, boxing, karate and shooting.
Kenya, which was the best in athletics, came second in the overall standings to win silver while Uganda, which emerged the best in netball, won bronze.
The closing ceremony of the annual multi-sports event held at BK Arena was presided over by the Minister of Interior, Alfred Gasana.
Present was also the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Felix Namuhoranye, the Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, the Commissioner General of Ethiopian Federal Police, who doubles as EAPCCO chairman, Demelash Gebremicheal Weldeyes, the IGP of Tanzania, Camillus Wambura, head of missions, Chief Defense Staff (CDS) Jean Bosco Kazura, and representatives of other EAPCCO Police chiefs, among others.
The colourful event opened with an entertaining handball final between Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda won 41-27 to take gold for the fourth successive time, having won it in the first edition in Uganda in 2017, and defended it during the second and third editions held in Tanzania and Kenya in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Minister Gasana said that the games are a great catalyst of connections among participating law enforcement agencies.
The interactions between players, he said, should allow them to remain in touch and exchange information and best practices.
“It is only through stronger police cooperation that we can ensure that the Eastern Africa region remains safer and more secure; a state of affairs that is fundamental for steady development,” Minister Gasana said.
To sports teams, he added, it was about fostering Police cooperation through sports, which makes everyone a winner.
IGP Namuhoranye said that the games showcased the spirit of Police officers; determination, challenging limits and striving for better.
“The EAPCCO Games have become an important pillar of our regional cooperation. They have helped in deepening and widening collaboration among member countries,” IGP Namuhoranye said.
Throughout the competitions, he added, participants have been able to play, interact, network and create bonds for future collaboration and partnership among Police in the EAPCCO region which is what the games intend to achieve.
The EAPCCO chairman, CG Demelash Gebremicheal Weldeyes, also said that the aspect of sports was introduced to create strong cooperation against transnational organized crimes, which is a global issue.
“We come together to share best practices among member states. Therefore, winning or losing is not important, but realizing that sports can be a wonderful platform where we build a coalition as a region in fighting cross jurisdictional crimes is a highly cherished trophy,” CG Demelash said. (End)