Musanze: MENYA RFL campaign launched to ensure efficient justice to citizens through DNA test

Elias Hakizimana Aug 18, 2022 0 Comments

By Alexia Bizumuremyi.

Officials in different local authority levels from Northern Province participated in a campaign to mobilize citizens about the activities and services of Rwanda Forensic Laboratory (RFL)) which is responsible for the collection of scientific analysis of evidence for judicial purposes.

The campaign that started in Musanze district on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, aims at giving justice to those who doubt about paternity relationship.

Beline Mukamana, Provincial Chief Investigator in Northern Province said: “We are grateful to the RFL because when they give us evidence we do not have any doubts because we believe that it was done professionally.”

Mukamana added that the decisions provided by RFL are hundred percent reliable.

“When the RFL gives us evidence, we make decisions without any doubt that we are unfair to anyone.”

The Inspirer talked to some of the leaders who participated in this campaign and said that they are happy with this initiative because it is a response towards breaking the barriers to access to justice.

Rwanda Forensic Laboratory provides various services including DNA testing of the blood of people who doubt about their relationship.

DNA Forensic Service is performed by Biology scientists who conduct several types of serological examinations on evidentiary materials, including the identification of blood, semen, saliva, and other body fluids in order to determine possible sources of the body fluids identified.

Such services are provided in terms of Criminal, Defence and Civil Law cases, as well as for industry and private cases.

The DNA testing program since its inception has processed more than thirty thousand (30,000) files, according to RFL.

Moses Kirenga, the Executive Secretary of Gicumbi District says that the establishment of this institution was timely to resolve disputes using a reliable laboratory of scientific evidences.

“So we can say that the RFL came as a mediator in the community, men used to doubt about their children and could deny them, or girls and women could lie to men that they have their children without real evidence, RFL came to resolve all these issues.” Kirenga said.

Dancille Nyirugendo, the Governor of the Northern Province said: “This Laboratory will help us to give justice to our people; we need citizens to know these services.”

She requested the authorities to play an important role in promoting these services to the public.

Theophile Mbonera , the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) said that they will continue to help RFL to mobilize these programs in order to strengthen the justice system.

“The RFL has solved a lot of problems because before those who needed to test the relationship had to go to foreign countries and wait for a long time, which could delay justice procedures.” Mbonera said.

Dr. Charles Karangwa, Director General of Rwanda Forensic Laboratory said that RFL has received 5000 to 6000 raped cases as of now.