{"id":113112,"date":"2025-10-15T15:47:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T15:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rwanda-forensic-opens-first-regional-branch-in-huye"},"modified":"2025-10-15T15:58:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T15:58:22","slug":"rwanda-forensic-opens-first-regional-branch-in-huye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/rwanda-forensic-opens-first-regional-branch-in-huye","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda Forensic opens first regional branch in Huye"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI) has opened its first regional branch outside Kigali in a bid to expand access to forensic justice services and decentralise operations across the country.<\/p>\n

The new branch was unveiled on Monday, October 13, at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), and Huye District.<\/p>\n

Officials during a guided tour of the newly inaugurated branch. The new branch will serve as a Forensic Sample Collection and Postmortem Examination centre for the Southern Province.<\/p>\n

It will serve as a forensic sample collection, examination, and postmortem centre for Southern Province and neighbouring districts. It aims to bring forensic services closer to judicial authorities, medical professionals, and the wider community, according to the Institute.<\/p>\n

Until Monday, all services were offered for the RFI Headquarters in Kigali.<\/p>\n

Officials pose for a group photo at the inauguration ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis branch safeguards the integrity of evidence from collection to courtroom presentation. It reduces delays in medico-legal investigations and brings critical services such as DNA testing, toxicology, and postmortem examinations closer to communities,\u201d said Dr Charles Karangwa, the Director General of RFI.<\/p>\n

He also announced RFI\u2019s plan to introduce the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to strengthen DNA profiling, kinship analysis, and bio-crime surveillance\u2014key tools in combating gender-based violence, drug abuse, and emerging security challenges.<\/p>\n

The newly inaugurated RFI branch is located at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) in Huye.<\/p>\n

Also present at the branch’s opening ceremony The\u0301ophile Mbonera, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, and Alice Kayitesi, the Governor of Southern Province, among other officials.<\/p>\n

Mbonera said the Huye branch represents a major step towards decentralising evidence-based justice and ensuring equitable access to forensic services nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe integration of forensic medicine and clinical practice strengthens both justice and public health systems in Rwanda,\u201d he said, expressing confidence that RFI\u2019s excellence will continue to gain national and international recognition.<\/p>\n

The Provincial Governor commended CHUB\u2019s operational capacity and thanked the Ministry of Justice for extending forensic services to the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about taking services closer to citizens. Forensic testing will now be done locally, enabling quicker results and faster justice while reducing costs previously incurred travelling to Kigali,\u201d Kayitesi said.<\/p>\n

She added that the new branch will also promote training and research for professionals in both the health and justice sectors.<\/p>\n

Dr Christian Ngarambe, the Acting Director General of CHUB, welcomed the collaboration with RFI, noting that the branch will support patient care and academic research.<\/p>\n

\u201cDNA testing enhances our research capabilities, revealing new insights that improve treatment and medical education. This partnership bridges research, healthcare, and justice,\u201d Ngarambe said.<\/p>\n

The Huye branch will connect directly with RFI Headquarters in Kigali through a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), ensuring seamless data sharing and case tracking.<\/p>\n\r\n