Police and Animal Welfare Experts Discuss Strategies to Enhance Safety and Welfare Standards

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Traffic Department has called on stakeholders to intensify efforts in educating livestock farmers about animal welfare and protection, especially during transportation, as part of a broader strategy to reduce cases of animal mistreatment.

This appeal was made by CSP Fabien Musinguzi, the RNP Traffic Police Commander in charge of Operations, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on November 29. The event, organized by the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD) in collaboration with the Rwanda Animal Welfare Organization (RAWO), focused on strengthening the role of veterinary professionals and livestock value-chain actors in promoting animal welfare and food safety.

CSP Musinguzi emphasized that since July, when the traffic police began receiving training on animal welfare, significant progress has been made in sharing this knowledge among officers and commanders—particularly in the Eastern Province. However, he stressed that enforcement alone is not enough.

It’s not enough for us, as police officers, to be aware of animal welfare in order to enforce regulations. Farmers, herders, and slaughterhouse workers also need to understand these principles. Without broader awareness, we cannot expect meaningful impact or change,”

he said.

The meeting highlighted the need for collaborative efforts among law enforcement, veterinary professionals, and the livestock sector to ensure that animal welfare standards are upheld throughout the value chain.

Musinguzi stated that it is true the animals are transported under poor and inhuman conditions and even though the culprits are handed penalties (fines) the biggest cause of the problem is vets themselves who award animal transport permits without physically inspection of the animal conditions.

For example a recent case in Kirehe district where a vet was arrested and latter release for offering a permit inside his office without knowing that the cows he had permitted to transport were stolen.

Therefore vets have to verify before giving permits. Without validating the reality on ground, that will cause thefts, transmission of animal diseases by unmarked animals, and illegal trade in animal business,”

Musinguzi said.

On behalf of the traffic department, Musinguzi said that in order to collaborate and resolve the current animal welfare offenses, the police requires that vets offer permits on site, be attentive to key details about animal safety.

Ministry of Agriculture Director General, Animal Resources Development, Jean Claude Ndorimana who opened the meeting said that the ministry gives great importance to animal welfare as it has a direct impact on the service sector especially when it comes to quality of meet consumed on the market.

Security officials have been calling in everyday and sending photos of animal mistreatment, requesting for a law that will end this. There are only two laws- on livestock and agricultural but are also working on a ministerial order that will guide us on ensuring animal health and welfare inclusively,”

Ndorimana said.

Ndorimana said that they will hold another expanded stakeholder meeting to create more awareness on animal welfare, but also discuss ways of improving standards and operations in slaughter houses.

Dr. Charles Kayumba, the board chairman Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors attested that there is a problem in transporting animals safely, cases of theft but also there are possible solutions, starting with the integrity of vets in Rwanda.

The first thing is for us to clean up our house because it is the vets themselves are the problem. They are not being responsible when doing their job and that is why we see these cases of theft, illegal transportation just because someone didn’t do their job well,”

Kayumba said.

Kayumba suggested that to ensure safety and security, Rwanda can adopt the use of terrestrial codes to identify animal locations but also go digital in recording permits to avoid errors but also create a system where the digital information can be accessed by all stakeholders.

Serious Measures:

Claude Masengesho, the RAWO Executive Director said that the upcoming new ministerial directives should consider establishing Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) in animal health, safety and ethical treatment to improve the status quo.

“Focusing on humane animal transportation and slaughter not only ensures ethical treatment of animals but also strengthens public health systems by providing safer, higher-quality food and nutrition towards Resilient food systems,”

Masengesho said.

RAWO also stated that they are committed to further training of traffic police, veterinarians, animal market personnel, animal handlers and transporters.

Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) Dr. Fabrice Ndayisenga said draft ministerial order will come soon but there are some gaps which have to be considered by holding more consultative meetings with vets and other actors.

Ndayisenga stated that ahead of this, there will be need for creating awareness on transportation of animals but also streamline the conduct of vets in Rwanda.

Ndayisenga noted that the problem is that vets have become so relaxed in their responsibilities and that should stop.

We, as Rwandan vets, have to be serious to ensure no gaps that can cause spread of animal diseases. We are going to fight a war of responsility because this country has an image to protect. Therefore, this has to be taken seriously as it has an impact on the economy but also on respecting animal welfare,”

Ndayisenga said.