IGIHE English

Author: Alcade Ndemeye

  • Museveni told Kenyatta he has no problems with Rwanda

    He revealed this yesterday in a talk show ‘Ikaze Munyarwanda’ aired on Radio Flash when asked what Museveni might have told Kenyatta on Rwanda.

    “Museveni told him (Kenyatta) that there is no problem,” said Nduhungirehe.

    When asked if it is not the right time to seek a mediator between the two countries, Nduhungirehe said mending the relationship is complicated when one side doesn’t agree with the existence of the problem.

    “The mediator intervenes between two people whom each did something where everyone commits his involvement to mend relations to be followed by consensus agreements. Today it is not the case. There is no statement from Uganda accepting there is a problem, throwing everything back to us. So, all situations cannot be taken at the same extent,” he said.

    President Kenyatta was in Rwanda on Monday where he held talks with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame as he chaired the National Leadership Retreat in Gabiro RDF’s Combat Training Center. Kenyatta left Rwanda for Uganda to meet president Museveni at his office in Entebbe.

    The visits took place at a time bilateral relations between Rwanda and Uganda is deteriorating. Rwanda accuses Uganda to support rebel groups intending to destabilize its security, torturing Rwandans and tampering their businesses.

    A political analyst and lecturer at the University of Rwanda, Dr. Christopher Kayumba has said that the matter won’t be addressed unless citizens exert pressure to their leaders.

    “This matter concerns citizens of Rwanda and Uganda. They are most affected. When there is no free movement so that a citizen can cross the border to sell Irish potatoes he can’t afford means to provide school fees,” he said.

    He explained that citizens from both countries must react on it demonstrating how it deteriorates inter-trade and reminding their leaders to address issues on account that they were voted to represent their interests.

    However; Nduhungirehe said that Rwandans have no need to put pressure on the government because it did all it could to fix relations yet Uganda demonstrated no commitment.

    The government of Rwanda recently advised Rwandans to suspend travels to Uganda following killings, torture, and incarcerations of Rwandans trading in and through Uganda.

  • Rwanda’s GDP grew by 8.6% in 2018

    Services sector contributed 48 percent of GDP, the Agriculture sector contributed 29 percent of the GDP, the Industry sector contributed 16 percent of GDP while 7 percent was attributed to adjustment for taxes fewer subsidies on products.

    Yusuf Murangwa the Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) attributed the 8.6% growth to progressive growth of different sectors.

    GDP grew by 10.4% in the first, 6.8% in the second, 7.7% in the and grew by 9.6% in the fourth quarter.

    Agriculture sector increased by 6 percent and contributed 1.6 percentage points to the overall GDP growth. Activities in the Industry sector increased by 10 percent and contributed 1.8 percentage points to the GDP growth. The Service sector increased by 9 percent and contributed 4.3 percentage points to the GDP growth.

    In 2018, private final consumption expenditure was 78 percent of the GDP while the government final consumption expenditure was 15 percent. Gross capital formation was estimated at 24 percent of GDP. In this year, imports of goods and services increased by 9 percent at constant 2014 prices; exports of goods and services increased by 1 percent.

  • Women to own smartphones and pay for them in two years

    The training was conducted within 12 sectors of Rubavu district. Beneficiaries were trained to use smartphones and computers, requesting services available online from government institutions like payment of Mutuelle de Santé among others.

    Marie Thérèse Mukakinani representing women in Bugeshi sector lauded offered pieces of training but requested support to get smartphones and increasing telecommunications towers to upgrade the network.

    “ We were trained that we can currently use smartphones to get services that would only access after long distances to service centers. We can pay for Mutuelle de Santé, see examinations results, pay school fees and taxes but we have problems of inadequate means to afford smartphones. They are expensive,” she said.

    In response to her concerns, Minister Paula promised them smartphones and increasing towers.

    “You are going to be facilitated to own smartphones. We shall work with SACCOs so that you can get them on loan and pay Rwf 5000 per month for the period of two years. We want people equipped with technology from wherever,” she said.

    Ingabire explained that they will keep close collaboration with partners to increase towers to fast track the target of speeding up development.

    The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), Solina Nyirahabimana urged women to pass acquired knowledge to others.

  • Kigali City Water Supply Master Plan to be revised

    The master plan is expected to address issues related to the shortage of water mainly rooted in an improper budget plan. The latter will specify areas for markets, the quantity of water needed by the population depending on the topographic structure in residential areas and required investment in the right place.

    The project expected to be completed in 2021 was launched yesterday by JICA Rwanda.
    Maruo Shin, the chief representative of JICA Rwanda office said that the master plan will be completed within one year.

    “ We will in the following year conduct a study for water investment to be used in the next 15 years,” he said.

    He explained that the master plan will draw the study of three projects that might be a water treatment plant or waterway systems depending on the government of Rwanda’s choice.
    Aimé Muzola, WASAC Chief Executive Officer said that improper budget planning was the root cause jeopardizing the distribution of safe water in some parts of the country.

    “When we talk about how the master plan helps us in budgeting, you should understand that we experience some water shortage cases over improper budget plan. Making it convenient enables to provide water and address shortage. Then we will have proper areas for distribution and identify proper areas of investment. It will reinforce fast-tracking the delivery of water to all Rwandans,” he said.

    The master plan will also cover areas nearby Kigali city including Karuruma,Shyorongi, Runda, Gahengeri, Rugarika, Ntarama, Muyumbu and Nyakariro.

    Access to water is made easier when residents can fetch from 200 meters in the countryside or 500 meters in town according to the current water distribution policy in Rwanda.

    Based on such indications 62 % have access to water while those who can afford water in no more than 5 kilometers are beyond 80%.

    Health centers, schools, trading companies and all the population in Rwanda are expected to have 100% access to water within seven years as planned in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST 1) 2017 – 2024

  • Rwanda closes airspace to Boeing 737-8 Max and 737-9 Max airplanes

    The directive puts Rwanda on the list of countries that have suspended the flights of the airplanes including USA, China, Singapore, and Indonesia among others.

    There airplanes have been reportedly involved in two fatal accident over the past five months.
    The accident in which Boeing 737-8 Max belonging Ethiopian Airlines was involved took place last Sunday and follows another of the plane belonging to Lion Air Flight from Indonesia which took lives of 189.

    RCA has released a statement informing pilots and aircrafts operators of any Boeing 737-8 Max and Boeing 737-9 Max not to conduct any flight in Rwanda’s airspace effective until further notice.

    Both crafts belonging to Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air flight involved in fatal accidents recently were brand new and crashed few minutes after taking off.

    So far, 50 countries including Rwanda, Tunisia and Ethiopia have suspended these aircrafts.

  • Gisagara residents urged on dedication for common interest

    The call was made yesterday by Edouard Bamporiki, the Chairperson of National Itorero Commission during the celebration of International Volunteerism Day at national level in Gisagara district.

    The celebration was marked by different volunteerism activities through a community work conducted in Ndora sector by volunteers and the youth attending civic education training.

    Bamporiki reminded them to pass the legacy to younger generation starting from their families to help the country reach its goals.

    “It must start from families with parents telling children that volunteering for Rwanda is a legacy and responsibility,” he said.

    Some of such acts common in Rwanda is six months volunteerism conducted at village level by the youth after completing secondary school studies, community health workers, community mediators, advisory committees and elections volunteers among others.

    Viviane Mukeshimana is one of volunteers in education sector. She said that volunteerism executed appropriately replicates heroism and brings advantages to the doer and the country in general.

    “A volunteer should do the right thing without counting on hours. I volunteer to give in my contribution to both my progress and my country in general,” she said.

    Residents were also sensitized on improved hygiene, planting trees and fighting against erosion, building kitchen backyards and preserving environment among others.

    Volunteerism policy was introduced in Rwanda in 2012. The International Volunteerism Day is celebrated on 5th December annually.

  • #Kwibuka25: Macron confirms France participation in commemoration activities

    Macron made the revelation as he spoke to the media on Tuesday during his visit to Ethiopia.
    “It is true that Rwanda invited us in commemoration activities. We received the invitation and I am sure that France will be represented,” he said.

    Talking to the media yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Sezibera said that there is apparent evidence of good relationships between Rwanda and France.

    He said that president Macron was invited to join Rwandans in the 25th commemoration of 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi along with other leaders.

    It is said that the delegation of France parliamentarians led by Sira Sylla from Senegal will be in Kigali on 7th April 2019.

    It is not the first time that France is invited to similar events. The participation is considered a significant milestone for both countries’ bilateral relations which wavered in the past over the role France is accused to have played during the Genocide.

    On 11-13, November 2018, President Paul Kagame was in France attending the Forum de Paris Peace Forum on the invitation of Macron.

    It was later said that Kagame presented a letter to Macron inviting him to visit Rwanda in 2019.

    Nicolas Sarkozy is the only France president who visited Rwanda on 25th February 2010 following the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi.

  • DRC envoy visits Rwanda ahead of Tshisekedi visit

    During the visit on Tuesday, Kagame hosted Kamerhe in Gabiro Combat Training Center located in Gatsibo district, Eastern Province and held talks that revolved around strengthening bilateral ties.

    They also discussed on the visits of both heads of states a result to be rooted on good relations.

    Speaking to IGIHE, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Richard Sezibera unveiled that the visit of president Tsisekedi in Kigali is expected in the near future.

    “Kamerhe came to Rwanda and held talks with a focus on paving the way to maintain good bilateral relations between Rwanda and DRC. Heads of states visits will be possible during that process of promoting and sustaining ties,” he said.

    “President Tshisekedi will also visit Rwanda and will be decently welcomed. The visit is scheduled soon possibly during the period of CEO Summit to take place this month,” he added.

    The summit known as The Africa CEO Forum is a world-leading, high-level international meeting of African CEOs and will be held in Kigali between March 25th – 26th, 2019.
    It is the 7th of its kind and will bring together 1,500 participants (CEOs, heads of governments and potential investors) from more than 70 countries to discuss regional integration including the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).
    It will be held under the theme: ” Open Africa: From Continental Treaties To Business Realities”.

    DRC presidency also reacted via twitter account that Vital Kamerhe was in Kigali on Tuesday to transmit a message from the president to his Rwandan counterpart. The statement to Paul Kagame highlighted the commitment to cooperate in stabilizing the volatile Eastern DRC region.

    President Kagame previously held talks with Félix Tshisekedi in February 2019 revolving around bilateral ties as they met in Ethiopia on the second day of the 32 General Assembly of the African Union (AU).

    Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, 55, was confirmed DRC president on 20th January 2019 by the Constitutional Court following elections held on 30th December 2018 rejecting the claim of Martin Fayulu who had contested elections outcomes.

    Expectations are high from president Tshisekedi who was elected 20 years after DRC forests became home to rebel groups intending to destabilize Rwanda’s security.

    Towards the end of January 2019, Rwanda’s prosecution issued new arrest warrants for Kayumba Nyamwasa and others behind P5 and RNC rebel groups organizing their activities in DRC forests to threaten Rwanda’s security.

    DRC forests are also home to FDLR rebels whose majority was involved in the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi.